Abstract
Cobalamin is an essential molecule for humans. It acts as a cofactor in one-carbon transfers through methylation and molecular rearrangement. These functions take place in fatty acid, amino acid and nucleic acid metabolic pathways. The deficiency of vitamin B12 is clinically manifested in the blood and nervous system where the cobalamin plays a key role in cell replication and in fatty acid metabolism. Hypovitaminosis arises from inadequate absorption, from genetic defects that alter transport through the body, or from inadequate intake as a result of diet. With the growing adoption of vegetarian eating styles in Western countries, there is growing focus on whether diets that exclude animal foods are adequate. Since food availability in these countries is not a problem, and therefore plant foods are sufficiently adequate, the most delicate issue remains the contribution of cobalamin, which is poorly represented in plants. In this review, we will discuss the status of vitamin B12 among vegetarians, the diagnostic markers for the detection of cobalamin deficiency and appropriate sources for sufficient intake, through the description of the features and functions of vitamin B12 and its absorption mechanism.
Highlights
The vegetarian eating style has increased in popularity, with 10% of the population opting to exclude animal foods from their diet [1]
Unbalanced vegetarian diets could be lacking in nutrients that are poorly represented in vegetal foodstuffs or with a low bioavailability [17]
Some plant foods seem to represent a significant source of Cbl [30,31], data in the literature are still insufficient to determine whether Cbl is found in the active form, and whether regular consumption of these foods can be sustainable when the variability in the production processes is taken into account
Summary
The vegetarian eating style has increased in popularity, with 10% of the population opting to exclude animal foods from their diet [1]. The scientific literature shows that the reduction or exclusion of animal foods may reduce the risk of Coronary Heart Disease (CHD) and Type 2 Diabetes (T2D) through modifiable factors such as body mass, serum glucose, blood pressure and serum lipid profile. These disorders contribute to a high mortality rate in Western countries [3,4,5,6,7]. The concentration of Cbl in the blood may not be sensitive enough to detect early signs of a deficiency and should be accompanied by other markers in order to reach a correct diagnosis
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