American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Vol 15, 77-84, Copyright © 1964 by The American Society for Clinical Nutrition, Inc.

Serum Vitamin B₁₂ and Folic Acid Activity in Lactovegetarian and Nonvegetarian Healthy Adult Indians

¹ From the Department of Chemical Technology, University of Bombay, and the Radioisotope Laboratory, Department of Pharmacology, Seth G. S. Medical College, Bombay, India

Serum vitamin B₁₂ and folic acid levels were estimated in 102 healthy Indian university students. The mean serum vitamin B₁₂ level in lactovegetarians was 121 µµg. per ml. as compared to 366 µµg. per ml. in nonvegetarians. The lactovegetarians excreted a lesser amount of vitamin B₁₂ in the urine. The serum vitamin B₁₂ levels could be correlated with the nonvegetarian food intake. Despite considerably low serum vitamin B₁₂ values, the lactovegetarians had no apparent signs or symptoms of vitamin B₁₂ deficiency state, and their response to injections of vitamin B₁₂ as judged by serum and urinary vitamin B₁₂ levels, was similar to that observed in nonvegetarians.

The serum folic acid activity was also decreased in lactovegetarians as compared to values for nonvegetarians. The importance of these findings is discussed.

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