Vitamin B-12 deficiency is common among both vegetarian and nonvegetarian Asian Indians

A strict vegetarian diet is associated with vitamin B-12 deficiency. The Asian Indian population is largely vegetarian, but the extent of vitamin B-12 deficiency in India is not confined to strict vegetarians. Refsum et al. studied indicators of vitamin B-12 deficiency in a group of subjects from the state of Maharashtra in India, where nearly 40% of the general population adheres to a vegetarian diet. Sixty-nine percent of the study group had confirmed cardiovascular disease, diabetes, or a combination of the two. Vitamin B-12 deficiency was found in half of the subjects, and three-quarters of the subjects had metabolic indicators associated with subclinical vitamin B-12 deficiency.

The 204 participants in the 1996 study were predominantly male and averaged 48 years old. Thirty-eight percent consumed a vegetarian diet, and 17% of nonvegetarians ate animal products less than once a month. The investigators were interested not only in vitamin B-12 status, but in serum levels of methylmalonic acid (MMA) and homocysteine (tHcy), since B-12 is a cofactor in the metabolism of these two amino acids. Only 10% of the group had normal concentrations of vitamin B-12, MMA, and tHcy; 52% had low vitamin B-12 levels. Metabolic indications of B-12 deficiency were apparent in 76% of the subjects who had elevated tHcy, and in 73% who had high MMA.

Nonvegetarian subjects who reported regular consumption of eggs, poultry and mutton were often found to be vitamin B-12 deficient. The authors suggest the possibility that the Indian population may have adapted to chronic low vitamin B-12 concentrations through genetic mechanisms, and that persistent gastrointestinal infections may be affecting vitamin B-12 absorption. The elevated tHcy concentrations that occur with chronic, subclinical vitamin B-12 deficiency have been associated with cardiovascular disease, cancer, cognitive impairment, and birth defects, and could pose a significant health risk to the more than one billion Indian population. An accompanying editorial by Antony emphasizes the importance of distinguishing between combined folate and B-12 deficiency and B-12 deficiency alone, since both conditions share common serum indicators.

Refsum, Helga et al. Hyperhomocysteinemia and elevated methylmalonic acid indicate a high prevalence of cobalamin deficiency in Asian Indians. Am J Clin Nutr 2001;74:233-41.

Antony, Asok C. Prevalence of cobalamin and folate deficiencies in India—audi alteram partem. Am J Clin Nutr 2001;74:157-9.

This media release is provided by The American Society for Clinical Nutrition to provide current information on nutrition-related research. This information should not be construed as medical advice. If you have a medical concern, consult your doctor. To see the complete text of this article, please go to:

http://faseb.org/ajcn/August/12380-Refsum.pdf

or

http://faseb.org/ajcn/August/12877-Antony.pdf

For more information, please contact: helga.refsum@farm.uib.no or aantony@iupui.edu

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