Vitamin B₁₂ and vegetarian diets.

Area of Science:

• Nutrition Science
• Dietary Supplements
• Public Health

Background:

• Vitamin B₁₂ is predominantly found in animal products, posing a risk for individuals on vegetarian or vegan diets.
• Vitamin B₁₂ deficiency can occur without the presence of anemia and has multiple stages.
• Adequate vitamin B₁₂ intake is essential for pregnant and lactating women following plant-based diets.

Purpose of the Study:

• To highlight the importance of vitamin B₁₂ status assessment in individuals with limited animal food intake.
• To discuss effective methods for assessing vitamin B₁₂ status.
• To explore strategies for improving vitamin B₁₂ levels in at-risk populations.

Main Methods:

• Dietary history assessment.
• Serum vitamin B₁₂ level testing.
• Testing of serum homocysteine, holotranscobalamin II, or methylmalonic acid levels.

Main Results:

• Regular assessment of vitamin B₁₂ status is recommended for vegans and vegetarians.
• A combination of dietary history and specific biomarker tests provides a useful assessment of vitamin B₁₂ status.
• Frequent, small doses of vitamin B₁₂ are more effective than infrequent large doses for absorption.

Conclusions:

• Individuals on vegan or vegetarian diets require vitamin B₁₂-fortified foods or supplements.
• Food fortification with vitamin B₁₂, especially in vegetarian-consumed products, may be beneficial.
• Further exploration of food fortification feasibility by authorities is warranted.