Haemoglobin, Vitamin B₁₂ and Folate Levels in the Elderly

Abstract

S ummary . Community‐based surveys of a representative sample of 533 subjects aged 65 yr and over were conducted in a mining valley and a seaside town in South Wales. Haemoglobin level, PCV, serum vitamin B 12 , plasma and red‐cell folate were measured and several simple tests of learing and memory were applied. The results give no evidence to suggest that anaemia is common and although low levels of vitamin B 12 and folate occurred no evidence of an associated impairment of health was detected.