According to Harvard Health, a deficiency in vitamin B12 is common in the Western world and is of particular concern for the elderly population. Vitamin B12 is an essential vitamin necessary for the production of DNA and the maintenance of the body's blood cells. The recommended dietary allowance, or RDA, for vitamin B12 is 2.4 mcg each day. If you think you may be deficient in vitamin B12, you should ask your primary care physician about a B12 blood test.
Causes
Because the primary source of vitamin B12 is animal products, vegans -- vegetarians who also abstain from dairy products and eggs -- are at particular risk for developing a deficiency. Older adults are also at greater risk because of nutritional deficiencies and the age-related thinning of the stomach lining, which inhibits absorption of vitamin B12 in the small intestine.
Symtoms
Although elderly adults may not display classic signs or symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency, balance issues and subtle neurological changes can occur. A severe deficiency is associated with memory loss, Alzheimer's disease and vascular dementia. Although a direct relationship between a vitamin B12 deficiency and dementia has not been established, it is known that folic acid and vitamin B12 deficiencies affect the presence and function of certain amino acids necessary for communication between cells.
Repercussions
Initial findings suggest low levels of vitamin B12 may be associated with a reduction in brain volume, although more study is required. Because prepared food such as cereal and other grains are frequently fortified with the B vitamin known as folic acid, some scientists express concern regarding the potential for neurological disorders given the discrepancy between low levels of vitamin B12 and the increasing levels of folate. There are no known adverse effects from taking higher doses, according to the Linus Pauling Institute.
Treatment
According to MayoClinic.com, one chicken breast, 8 oz. of milk with Raisin Bran and a hard-boiled egg provide a single day's supply of vitamin B12. With age, elderly adults frequently eat less and do not absorb vitamins as efficiently as younger adults. To maintain adequate levels of vitamin B12, doctors suggest that older adults eat fortified cereals or supplement their diets with between 25 and 100 mcg of vitamin B12. Vitamin B12 supplements may be taken orally or by intramuscular injection.
References
- Oregon State University, Linus Pauling Institute: Vitamin B12
- PubMed.gov: Vitamin B12 Deficiency in the Elderly
- MayoClinic.com: Vitamin B12
- Vitamin B12 Deficiency: Vegetarians, Elderly May Not Get Enough Vitamin B12, Says The Harvard Health Letter
- Annual Reviews: Vitamin B12 Deficiency in the Elderly
- "The New York Times"; Lack of Vitamin B12 in Elderly May Cause Brain Shrinkage; Nicholas Bakalar; September 2008
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