The importance of vitamin B12 for individuals choosing plant-based diets

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.

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

Fig. 1

Presents the pattern of consumption for different food components ranging from a vegan to omnivore diet. *A flexitarian diet may occasionally consume fish, seafood and animal products but likely limit their consumption of these foods for environmental and health reasons. *.¹Shows the gradient of vitamin B₁₂ found in foods from differing diets, ranging from none in vegan diets to high in omnivore (without the intake of supplements or fortified foods). Fig. 1 has taken inspiration from Fig. 1 in review [19]