1 in 8 Irish adults aged over 50 is deficient in Vitamin B12

Vegans know the the importance of B12 supplements as vegans have to take a B12 supplement daily.  Now a large study has thrown up questions for the wider population.  Published in the British Journal of Nutrition, The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing at Trinity College Dublin has found for the first time that many adults aged over 50 are at risk of both Vitamin B12 and Folic Acid deficiency.

The study found 1 in 8 adults over 50 across Ireland are deficient in B12 and 1 in 7 are deficient in Folic Acid.  The findings form part of the largest study of its kind conducted across Ireland.  The research has raised concern and Professor Rose Anne Kenny, Principal Investigator said, “The high rate of B vitamin deficiency seen in the older adult population are of concern and given that this can easily be treated with fortification, this has significant policy and practice implications for government and health services.”