What Should Vegetarians and the Elderly Supplement?
US experts believe vitamin B12 deficiency is more widespread than previously thought, particularly among vegetarians and the elderly, who are most susceptible. Experts recommend that vegetarians and older adults take vitamin B12 supplements.
Vitamin B12 is crucial for maintaining healthy nerve and red blood cells. Deficiency can cause various conditions—from fatigue and mild dizziness to nerve damage, anemia, and dementia. Dr. Anthony Komaroff from Harvard Medical School in Boston said doctors used to believe vitamin B12 deficiency manifested only as a rare disease—pernicious anemia—caused by lack of a protein needed for intestinal absorption of vitamin B12. However, recent evidence shows vitamin B12 deficiency is increasingly common.
Differing from many other vitamins, natural vitamin B12 exists only in animal products (including poultry, beef, lamb, fish), eggs, and dairy—but in relatively small amounts in eggs and dairy. Thus, vegetarians, especially strict vegans avoiding eggs and dairy, may have very low levels of vitamin B12.
For those over 50, the situation is similar, as many suffer from gastric atrophy impairing stomach acid secretion. Dr. Komaroff explained that stomach acid is vital for absorbing vitamin B12 from food. He emphasized that taking supplements is critical for both vegetarians and the elderly, who can obtain vitamin B12 through multivitamins or fortified cereals.