Serum vitamin B12 and blood cell values in vegetarians

Area of Science:

• Nutrition Science
• Hematology

Background:

• Vegetarian diets are increasingly popular globally.
• Vitamin B12 is primarily found in animal products, raising concerns about deficiency in vegetarian populations.
• Maintaining adequate vitamin B12 levels is crucial for preventing neurological and hematological issues.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess serum vitamin B12 levels and complete blood count (CBC) values in various types of vegetarian subjects.
• To identify the prevalence of vitamin B12 deficiency across different vegetarian dietary patterns.
• To investigate potential hematological consequences of low vitamin B12 in vegetarians.

Main Methods:

• Serum vitamin B12 levels and CBC parameters were measured in 83 vegetarian volunteers.
• Subjects were categorized into vegans, lactovegetarians, lacto-ovovegetarians, and semivegetarians.
• Dietary supplementation habits regarding vitamin B12 and multivitamins were recorded.

Main Results:

• A high percentage of vegetarians, particularly vegans (92%), had serum vitamin B12 below 200 pg/ml.
• Lower, but still significant, percentages of lactovegetarians (64%), lacto-ovovegetarians (47%), and semivegetarians (20%) also showed low vitamin B12 levels.
• Despite low vitamin B12, CBC values, including mean corpuscular volume (MCV), did not significantly deviate from non-vegetarian norms, with minimal macrocytosis observed.

Conclusions:

• Vegetarian diets, especially vegan and lactovegetarian, are associated with a high risk of low serum vitamin B12.
• The absence of significant hematological abnormalities suggests that vegetarians may have adapted to lower vitamin B12 levels or that other factors mitigate anemia risk.
• Further research is warranted to understand the long-term health implications and optimal B12 supplementation strategies for vegetarians.