Epidemiology
The Framingham Offspring Study found up to 39% of US adults at risk for vitamin B12 deficiency (defined as serum vitamin B12 <258 picomols/L [<350 picograms/mL]).[3]Tucker KL, Rich S, Rosenberg I, et al. Plasma vitamin B-12 concentrations relate to intake source in the Framingham Offspring study. Am J Clin Nutr. 2000 Feb;71(2):514-22.
http://www.ajcn.org/cgi/content/full/71/2/514
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10648266?tool=bestpractice.com
Prevalence increases with advancing age, and ranges from 5% to 15% in older people depending on the population studied and the methods of diagnosis.[4]Pennypacker LC, Allen RH, Kelly JP, et al. High prevalence of cobalamin deficiency in elderly outpatients. J Am Geriatr Soc. 1992 Dec;40(12):1197-204.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1447433?tool=bestpractice.com
[5]Clarke R, Grimley Evans J, Schneede J, et al. Vitamin B12 and folate deficiency in later life. Age Ageing. 2004 Jan;33(1):34-41.
http://ageing.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/reprint/33/1/34
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14695861?tool=bestpractice.com
[6]Andres E, Loukili NH, Noel E, et al. Vitamin B12 (cobalamin) deficiency in elderly patients. CMAJ. 2004 Aug 3;171(3):251-9.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC490077/
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15289425?tool=bestpractice.com
[7]Pfisterer KJ, Sharratt MT, Heckman GG, et al. Vitamin B12 status in older adults living in Ontario long-term care homes: prevalence and incidence of deficiency with supplementation as a protective factor. Appl Physiol Nutr Metab. 2016 Feb;41(2):219-22.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26781161?tool=bestpractice.com
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