Original Paper

Modern Society and Prospects of Low Vitamin B₁₂ Intake
Ilia Volkov, Inna Rudoy, Mochamed Machagna, Inna Glezer, Uri Ganel, Anna Orenshtein, Yan Press

Department of Family Medicine, Sial Research Center for Family Medicine and Primary Care, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, and Clalit Health Services, Southern District, Beer-Sheva, Israel

Address of Corresponding Author

Ann Nutr Metab 2007;51:468-470 (DOI: 10.1159/000111168)

  Key Words

• Vitamin B₁₂
• Animal products consumption
• Fortification of food with vitamin B₁₂
• High socioeconomic status

  Abstract

Background: Vitamin B₁₂ deficiency can occur in individuals with dietary patterns that exclude animal foods and patients who are unable to absorb vitamin B₁₂ in food. Material and Method: Our clinic serves a high-income population living in Southern Israel. We hypothesize that a tendency to decrease of level of vitamin B₁₂ in our population is caused by a premeditated decrease in consumption of animal products. We analyzed 512 medical histories of patients undergoing blood tests for vitamin B₁₂ level for various reasons. Result: The level of vitamin B₁₂ in 192 patients (37.5%) was less than 250 pg/ml. Conclusion: As a result of media information disseminating the relationship between meat, cholesterol and cardiovascular diseases, consumption of meat, particularly beef, has decreased. Changes in life style among segments of the population with high socioeconomic level, on one hand, and the existence of poverty, on the other, are two main factors in the decreasing consumption of animal products. This causes a decrease in the level of vitamin B₁₂ in the general population, and as a consequence, this will increase pathology due to vitamin B₁₂ deficiency. In lieu of these possible developments and in order to prevent serious health problems, vitamin B₁₂ fortification should be seriously considered and discussed.

Copyright © 2007 S. Karger AG, Basel

  Author Contacts

Dr. I. Volkov, MD
Department of Family Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences
Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, PO Box 84105
Beer-Sheva 84514 (Israel)
Tel. +972 8 643 1530, Fax +972 8 640 4832, E-Mail r0019@zahav.net.il

  Article Information

Received: December 27, 2006
Accepted: April 30, 2007
Published online: November 20, 2007
Number of Print Pages : 3
Number of Figures : 0, Number of Tables : 1, Number of References : 16