Source record
How prevalent is vitamin B12 deficiency among vegetarians?
Roman Pawlak, Scott Parrott, Sudha Raj, Diana Cullum-Dugan, Debbie Lucus (2013). Nutrition Reviews.
Key findings
- Vitamin B12 deficiency is common among vegetarians and vegans who do not supplement or eat fortified foods, across all age groups studied.
Record
- Source type
- Systematic Review
- Study type
- Systematic Review
- Topics
- Nutrients to watch
- Geography
- Multiple countries
- Funding & conflicts
- Not recorded.
- Source quality
- Strong evidenceConsistent finding across many studies and populations.
Limitations
- Studies used different deficiency thresholds and markers.
Claims this source supports
HealthStrong evidence
Vegans need vitamin B12 from supplements or fortified foods; without one, deficiency is common and can cause lasting harm.
Yes. This is the one nutrient a vegan diet cannot supply on its own. A cheap supplement solves it.
Claims this source challenges or complicates
HealthModerate evidence
A well-planned vegan diet is associated with lower risk of several chronic diseases, but the evidence does not show a clear difference in overall mortality, and poorly planned vegan diets carry nutritional risks.
It can be, if it is built on whole foods and covers a few nutrients. 'Vegan' on its own is not a health claim.
Cite this record
How prevalent is vitamin B12 deficiency among vegetarians?. The Balance of Health. https://thebalanceofhealth.com/sources/pawlak-2013-prevalence-of-b12-deficiency-among-vegetarians