Vitamin B-12 and folate deficiency in elderly persons

In May 2002, the Food Standards Agency in the United Kingdom decided against endorsing the recommendation of the Committee on Medical Aspects of Food and Nutrition Policy that universal folic acid fortification of flour be introduced to prevent neural tube defects, but the agency also indicated a willingness to reconsider the decision in the light of further evidence. In coming to its decision, the Food Standards Agency was influenced by a recently completed study claiming that vitamin B-12 deficiency among the elderly is more common than had been previously suspected. The investigators linked this claim to the theoretical concern that folic acid fortification might delay the diagnosis of vitamin B-12 neuropathy or even precipitate its onset.