Vegetarians must supplement with B12

A new study from the February issue of Nutrition Reviews states that vegetarians are at risk for vitamin B12 deficiency due to suboptimal intake. Reported B12 deficiency rates reported for specific populations were as follows: 

• 62% among pregnant women
• Between 25% and 6% among children
• 21–41% among adolescents
• 11–90% among the elderly. 
• Higher rates of deficiency were reported among vegans compared with vegetarians and among individuals who had adhered to a vegetarian diet since birth compared with those who had adopted such a diet later in life. 

The main finding is that vegetarians develop B12 depletion or deficiency regardless of demographic characteristics, place of residency, age, or type of vegetarian diet. Vegetarians should thus take preventive measures to ensure adequate intake of this vitamin, including regular consumption of supplements containing B12.