The Importance of Vitamin B12 for Individuals Choosing Plant-Based Diets

Ali Niklewicz; A David Smith; Alison Smith; Andre Holzer; Andrew Klein; Andrew McCaddon; Anne M Molloy; Bruce H R Wolffenbuttel; Ebba Nexo; Helene McNulty; Helga Refsum; Jean-Louis Gueant; Marie-Joe Dib; Mary Ward; Michelle Murphy; Ralph Green; Kourosh R Ahmadi; Luciana Hannibal; Martin J Warren; P Julian Owen

doi:10.1007/s00394-022-03025-4

The Importance of Vitamin B12 for Individuals Choosing Plant-Based Diets

Ali Niklewicz, A David Smith, Alison Smith, Andre Holzer, Andrew Klein, Andrew McCaddon, Anne M Molloy, Bruce H R Wolffenbuttel, Ebba Nexo, Helene McNulty, Helga Refsum, Jean-Louis Gueant, Marie-Joe Dib, Mary Ward, Michelle Murphy, Ralph Green, Kourosh R Ahmadi, Luciana Hannibal, Martin J Warren, P Julian Owen

Research output: Contribution to journal › Comment/debate › peer-review

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Abstract

Vitamin B12 is an essential nutrient that is not made by plants, consequently unfortified plant-based foods are not a reliable supply. Recent estimates suggest high rates of vitamin B12 deficiency among the vegetarian and vegan populations, particularly in pregnant women or women of child-bearing age who, for ethical and health reasons, are shifting towards higher consumption of plant-based foods in ever-increasing numbers. Vitamin B12 plays crucial metabolic roles across the life-course and in particular during pregnancy and in early development (first 1000 days of life). Evidence now implicates vitamin B12 deficiency with increased risk to a range of neuro, vascular, immune, and inflammatory disorders. However, the current UK recommended nutrient intake for vitamin B12 does not adequately consider the vitamin B12 deficit for those choosing a plant-based diet, including vegetarianism and in particular veganism, representing a hidden hunger. We provide a cautionary note on the importance of preventing vitamin B12 deficits for those individuals choosing a plant-based diet and the health professionals advising them.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	1-9
Number of pages	9
Journal	European Journal of Nutrition
Volume	62
Issue number	3
Early online date	5 Dec 2022
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/s00394-022-03025-4
Publication status	Published online - 5 Dec 2022

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2022, The Author(s).

Keywords

Dietary recommendations
Vegetarian and vegan populations
Women of child-bearing age
Public health
Planetary health
Plant-based diets
Pregnancy
Vitamin B12

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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Cite this

Niklewicz, A., Smith, A. D., Smith, A., Holzer, A., Klein, A., McCaddon, A., Molloy, A. M., Wolffenbuttel, B. H. R., Nexo, E., McNulty, H., Refsum, H., Gueant, J.-L., Dib, M.-J., Ward, M., Murphy, M., Green, R., Ahmadi, K. R., Hannibal, L., Warren, M. J., & Owen, P. J. (2022). The Importance of Vitamin B12 for Individuals Choosing Plant-Based Diets. European Journal of Nutrition, 62(3), 1-9. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00394-022-03025-4

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abstract = "Vitamin B12 is an essential nutrient that is not made by plants, consequently unfortified plant-based foods are not a reliable supply. Recent estimates suggest high rates of vitamin B12 deficiency among the vegetarian and vegan populations, particularly in pregnant women or women of child-bearing age who, for ethical and health reasons, are shifting towards higher consumption of plant-based foods in ever-increasing numbers. Vitamin B12 plays crucial metabolic roles across the life-course and in particular during pregnancy and in early development (first 1000 days of life). Evidence now implicates vitamin B12 deficiency with increased risk to a range of neuro, vascular, immune, and inflammatory disorders. However, the current UK recommended nutrient intake for vitamin B12 does not adequately consider the vitamin B12 deficit for those choosing a plant-based diet, including vegetarianism and in particular veganism, representing a hidden hunger. We provide a cautionary note on the importance of preventing vitamin B12 deficits for those individuals choosing a plant-based diet and the health professionals advising them. ",

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Niklewicz, A, Smith, AD, Smith, A, Holzer, A, Klein, A, McCaddon, A, Molloy, AM, Wolffenbuttel, BHR, Nexo, E, McNulty, H, Refsum, H, Gueant, J-L, Dib, M-J, Ward, M, Murphy, M, Green, R, Ahmadi, KR, Hannibal, L, Warren, MJ & Owen, PJ 2022, 'The Importance of Vitamin B12 for Individuals Choosing Plant-Based Diets', European Journal of Nutrition, vol. 62, no. 3, pp. 1-9. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00394-022-03025-4

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T1 - The Importance of Vitamin B12 for Individuals Choosing Plant-Based Diets

AU - Niklewicz, Ali

AU - Smith, A David

AU - Smith, Alison

AU - Holzer, Andre

AU - Klein, Andrew

AU - McCaddon, Andrew

AU - Molloy, Anne M

AU - Wolffenbuttel, Bruce H R

AU - Nexo, Ebba

AU - McNulty, Helene

AU - Refsum, Helga

AU - Gueant, Jean-Louis

AU - Dib, Marie-Joe

AU - Ward, Mary

AU - Murphy, Michelle

AU - Green, Ralph

AU - Ahmadi, Kourosh R

AU - Hannibal, Luciana

AU - Warren, Martin J

AU - Owen, P Julian

PY - 2022/12/5

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N2 - Vitamin B12 is an essential nutrient that is not made by plants, consequently unfortified plant-based foods are not a reliable supply. Recent estimates suggest high rates of vitamin B12 deficiency among the vegetarian and vegan populations, particularly in pregnant women or women of child-bearing age who, for ethical and health reasons, are shifting towards higher consumption of plant-based foods in ever-increasing numbers. Vitamin B12 plays crucial metabolic roles across the life-course and in particular during pregnancy and in early development (first 1000 days of life). Evidence now implicates vitamin B12 deficiency with increased risk to a range of neuro, vascular, immune, and inflammatory disorders. However, the current UK recommended nutrient intake for vitamin B12 does not adequately consider the vitamin B12 deficit for those choosing a plant-based diet, including vegetarianism and in particular veganism, representing a hidden hunger. We provide a cautionary note on the importance of preventing vitamin B12 deficits for those individuals choosing a plant-based diet and the health professionals advising them.

AB - Vitamin B12 is an essential nutrient that is not made by plants, consequently unfortified plant-based foods are not a reliable supply. Recent estimates suggest high rates of vitamin B12 deficiency among the vegetarian and vegan populations, particularly in pregnant women or women of child-bearing age who, for ethical and health reasons, are shifting towards higher consumption of plant-based foods in ever-increasing numbers. Vitamin B12 plays crucial metabolic roles across the life-course and in particular during pregnancy and in early development (first 1000 days of life). Evidence now implicates vitamin B12 deficiency with increased risk to a range of neuro, vascular, immune, and inflammatory disorders. However, the current UK recommended nutrient intake for vitamin B12 does not adequately consider the vitamin B12 deficit for those choosing a plant-based diet, including vegetarianism and in particular veganism, representing a hidden hunger. We provide a cautionary note on the importance of preventing vitamin B12 deficits for those individuals choosing a plant-based diet and the health professionals advising them.

KW - Dietary recommendations

KW - Vegetarian and vegan populations

KW - Women of child-bearing age

KW - Public health

KW - Planetary health

KW - Plant-based diets

KW - Pregnancy

KW - Vitamin B12

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DO - 10.1007/s00394-022-03025-4

M3 - Comment/debate

C2 - 36469110

SN - 1436-6207

VL - 62

SP - 1

EP - 9

JO - European Journal of Nutrition

JF - European Journal of Nutrition

IS - 3

ER -

The Importance of Vitamin B12 for Individuals Choosing Plant-Based Diets

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Keywords

UN SDGs

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