Irish adults may suffer from folate, B12 deficiency due to voluntary fortification

According to a study published in the British Journal of Nutrition, 13% of Irish adults aged 50 and over are deficient in folate and vitamin B12—which is higher than in the United States and some other countries, where folic acid fortification is mandatory. Both vitamin B12 and folate are essential for nerve function, brain health, and the production of red blood cells and DNA.

Researchers from The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (TILDA) at Trinity College Dublin found that one in eight older adults are deficient in the vitamin and one in seven aren’t getting enough folate, which is a natural vitamin linked to the dietary supplement folic acid. According to the research, variations differ based on location, health, lifestyle, and time of year measured.

The researchers surveyed 5,290 older adults and found that the percentage of those with sufficient usage increased with age—from 14% among those aged 50–60 years to 23% among people aged 80-plus. In addition, more women took B12 or folate than men, and low B12 and folate usage was also more common in smokers, the obese, and those who lived alone.

In Ireland, fortification of food products is voluntary and some foods (such as ready-to-eat cereals) are enriched with micronutrients such as folic acid, though this is inconsistent between products fortified and over time, resulting in haphazard exposure. Based on the results, the researchers concluded that the current custom of voluntary food fortification is ineffective in preventing deficiency or low status of these vitamins among older people. The results are of relevance not just for Ireland but for all countries that do not have mandatory fortification.

“The high rates of B-vitamin deficiency seen in the older adult population are of concern and, given that this can be easily treated with fortification, this has significant policy and practice implications for government and health services,” said professor Rose Anne Kenny, principal investigator of TILDA. “TILDA has consistently assisted policy makers by providing strong evidence based data on which to make recommendations but also by assisting with information of most vulnerable people and therefore those who should be targeted.”

Abstract