Division of Nutritional Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14850, USA.
Curr Opin Clin Nutr Metab Care. 2010 Jan;13(1):24-7. doi: 10.1097/MCO.0b013e328333d157.
To review the prevalence, causes and functional significance of vitamin B12 deficiency in vulnerable subpopulations including older adults and the developing embryo.
It is becoming increasingly recognized that the susceptibility to vitamin B12 deficiency may change throughout the life cycle, with the developing embryo and older adults exhibiting elevated risk. Recent data implicate low vitamin B12 status as a risk factor for birth defects resulting from improper neural tube development. The potential for vitamin supplementation and/or food fortification to ameliorate the risk of deficiency in these subpopulations is discussed.
The prevalence and impact of vitamin B12 deficiency varies throughout the life cycle, with older adults and potentially the developing embryo having the greatest risk and susceptibility. Additional research is needed to develop effective public health interventions that address the unique causes of this nutritional deficiency, which differ among at-risk subpopulations.
审查易患人群（包括老年人和胚胎发育期）维生素 B12 缺乏症的流行率、病因和功能意义。
人们越来越认识到，维生素 B12 缺乏症的易感性可能会在整个生命周期中发生变化，胚胎发育期和老年人的风险增加。最近的数据表明，维生素 B12 水平低是神经管发育异常导致出生缺陷的一个危险因素。讨论了在这些人群中补充维生素和/或食物强化以改善维生素 B12 缺乏症风险的可能性。
维生素 B12 缺乏症的流行率和影响在整个生命周期中有所不同，老年人和胚胎发育期的人风险最大、最易感染。需要进一步研究以制定有效的公共卫生干预措施，解决不同高危人群之间存在的这种营养缺乏症的独特原因。
