Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-gvvz8 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-27T07:20:17.463Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

What is the prevalence of vitamin B12 deficiency among healthy vegans and vegetarians of European ancestry residing in Western Europe or the USA?

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  16 December 2024

A. Niklewicz ,
L Hannibal ,
M. Warren  and
K. R Ahmadi
A. Niklewicz
Affiliation:
Department of Nutritional Sciences, Faculty of Health & Medical Sciences, University of Surrey, Guildford
L Hannibal
Affiliation:
Laboratory of Clinical Biochemistry and Metabolism, Department of General Paediatrics, Adolescent Medicine and Neonatology, Faculty of Medicine, Medical Center, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
M. Warren
Affiliation:
Norwich Research Park, Quadram Institute Bioscience, Norwich, UK
K. R Ahmadi
Affiliation:
Department of Nutritional Sciences, Faculty of Health & Medical Sciences, University of Surrey, Guildford
Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.

Vegan and vegetarian diets, lacking animal-based foods, increase the risk of vitamin B12 deficiency(1). Yet, there is limited current data on its prevalence among European ancestry individuals in Western Europe or the USA. This study aimed to provide a consensus on the prevalence of B12 deficiency among vegans and vegetarians of European ancestry residing in Western Europe or the USA.

We identified studies from our systematic review of “Functional Vitamin B12 Status Among Adult Vegans” to develop a narrative review of the prevalence of B12 deficiency based on biomarkers of B12 status among vegan and vegetarians. We then used pooled data from National Diet and Nutrition Survey (NDNS)(2) to calculate UK-specific prevalence information on B12 deficiency and insufficiency using the new NICE(3) criteria among vegan/vegetarian women of child-bearing age (WCBA) (age 18-45) compared with older women.

A total of six studies (2013-2022) with data on the prevalence of B12 deficiency were identified.

These studies were conducted on participants from UK, Norway, Spain, Czech Republic and US. Nearly all used different cut-offs to define B12 deficiency. Among vegans and vegetarians, the reported prevalence of deficiency ranged from 5-52% and 6-14%, respectively. Studies from Norway(4) and Finland(5) highlight low prevalence (5%) and no difference between dietary groups, possibly due to widespread supplement usage. The USA(6), indicated a higher prevalence of inadequate B12 intake among vegans and vegetarians compared to omnivours, with 8% of vegans and 6% of vegetarians exhibiting serum B12 levels < 148pmol/l. Similarly, results from Spain(7) noted subclinical deficiencies in 11% of participants, in both vegans and vegetarians. In the Czech Republic(8), cobalamin deficiency was noted in 15% of vegans, with 17% exhibiting deficiency (Serum B12< 100 ng/L). Notably, regular supplementation significantly reduced deficiency rates, emphasising its role in maintaining normal B12 levels. In the UK(9), only one publication reported B12 deficiency rates (SerumB12 <118pmol/L) among male vegans (52%) and vegetarians (7%). Using data from the NDNS and NICE guidelines, the prevalence of B12 deficiency was (defined as serum B12 < 133pmol/L and Holo-TC <25pmol/L) at 5-8% among vegetarian WCBA (Age 18-45); appropriate data on vegans was not available. B12 insufficiency (potential deficiency), defined by NICE as serum B12 < 258 pmol/L and Holo-TC < 70 pmol/L, translated to 75% of vegetarians within the WCBA cohort being defined as insufficient compared to 39% among older vegetarian women. A similar but more pronounced trend emerges for Holo-TC insufficiency, with 90% of vegetarians exhibiting inadequate Holo-TC < 70 pmol/L, compared to 58% of older women vegetarians and 65% of omnivores.

Few studies report B12 deficiency among Western European vegans and vegetarians, particularly for vegan WCBA. Existing data suggest a high risk can be mitigated with appropriate supplementation or adequately fortified foods.

Type
Abstract
Information
Proceedings of the Nutrition Society , Volume 83 , Issue OCE4: Nutrition Society Congress 2024, 2–5 July 2024 , November 2024 , E433
Check for updates
Copyright
© The Author(s), 2024. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of The Nutrition Society

Footnotes

¥

Ali Niklewicz is a PhD student supported by a Doctoral Training Program Studentship from the BBSRC

References

Niklewicz, A, Smith, AD, Smith, A et al. (2023) Eur J Nutr 62, 1551–1559.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
National diet and nutrition survey (NDNS) (2023). National Diet and Nutrition Survey Years 1-11, 2008-2019. 19th Edition. UK Data Service. [data collection]. [Available at: doi: http://doi.org/10.5255/UKDA-SN-6533-19].CrossRefGoogle Scholar
NICE guideline [NG239] (2024). Vitamin B12 deficiency in over 16s: diagnosis and management. [Available at: Overview | Vitamin B12 deficiency in over 16s: diagnosis and management | Guidance | NICE].Google Scholar
Henjum, S et al. (2023) Br J Nutr 129 (12), 2076–2083.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Elorinne, Anna-Liisa et al. (2016) PloS one 11, 2 e0148235.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Haddad, EH, Jaceldo-Siegl, K, Oda, K, Fraser, GE (2020) Curr Dev Nutr 4 (2): nzaa008.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gallego-Narbón, A, Zapatera, B, Barrios, L, Vaquero, MP (2019) J Nutr Sci 8, e7.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Selinger, E, Kühn, T, Procházková, M, Anděl, M, Gojda, J (2019) Nutrients 11 (12), 3019.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gilsing, AM, Crowe, FL, Lloyd-Wright, Z et al. (2010) Eur J Clin Nutr 64 (9), 933–939.CrossRefGoogle Scholar