Vitamin B12 Levels and Age

Abstract

Vitamin B12 concentration was determined by radioassay in 179 healthy volunteers between the ages of 20 and 93 years in order to determine whether vitamin B12 levels decline with advancing age. The authors found no statistically significant decline in vitamin B12 levels in older individuals, nor a difference between males and females. A review of previous reports identifies potential reasons for controversy regarding the normal concentration of vitamin B12 in the elderly.