And meanwhile, hospital admissions for vitamin deficiencies are on the rise...

[Myoldcat]

The situation is attributed to food poverty. But perhaps it's also because gps can't or won't recognise or test until people are seriously ill? Or because if you're one point above the UK's woefully low bar for deficient you're labelled 'normal'? But interesting if depressing reading. And no political bias, the same info is in the Telegraph and Independent! theguardian.com/society/202...

[Nackapan]

Umm interesting

[WIZARD6787]

I wonder if it's not that more people are going to the hospital with B12 deficiency rather it's being recognized more often.

[Myoldcat in reply to WIZARD6787]

Well in the UK it's very often NOT being recognised or treated effectively by our GPs, unfortunately. So I wouldn't be surprised that people are ending up in emergency units with more severe symptoms whether they suspect deficiency or not. A friend who's an emergency doctor says they test for B12 a lot, certainly with any neuro conditions, and find lots of deficiency levels. But whatever the reasons it's a sorry situation in a first world country.

[Statesideheather]

I ind it hard to believe it's food poverty. Poor diets (by choice, ie , veganism), picky eaters, processed trash etc etc. I absolutely believe nutritional deficiencies are the cause of many "chronic" symptoms/diseases. But I think it comes down to habits and choice, and the rare innate defect, such as PA.

[GoneWithTheWind1972 in reply to Statesideheather]

This is also a similar situation here in Australia. Contributing factors such as low quality ultra processed foods, vegan/vegetarian food choices are all too common.

I always thought I had made good food choices prior to my PA and crohn’s diagnosis. This was a wake up call to me to reassess my health and make even more gut health improvements.

It’s a shame that we’re in a world where such deficiencies occur way too often in first world nations.

[Myoldcat in reply to GoneWithTheWind1972]

I suspect that in a couple of decades Big Food will be viewed rather as Big Tobacco is now...

[Orchard33]

Very interesting indeed. When I read this and heard it on radio 4 I thought two things: yes, poor diets deficient in nutrients, but also, less noted on the media, poor absorption caused by the increasing treatment of digestive ailments by drugs known to be harmful; and the atrophy that comes with aging. I would suggest that vitamin supplementation would benefit all older people.

[Myoldcat in reply to Orchard33]

Yes you're right, the huge overprescribing of PPIs must play a part. But of course it will probably take decades more before that's officially recognised (see thalidomide, valium, vioxx, etc)

[GoneWithTheWind1972 in reply to Myoldcat]

There’s a study being conducted currently here by Monash University, linking the over prescription of antibiotics being a contributing factor in dementia. Another over use of a prescribed medication causing chronic long term health consequences.

[GoneWithTheWind1972 in reply to Orchard33]

I totally agree!! Dementia is such a condition, stomach atrophy and vitamin deficiencies in the elderly are all the root causes of many chronic diseases. I have my mother on B12 and a few other supplements as my family has a history of dementia.. All related to stomach atrophy leading to nutritional deficiencies.

[Myoldcat]

FYI, I've just emailed the author of this piece to see if he'd like to do an article specifically on B12 deficiency, and will also contact the journalists who reported it in other papers. You never know... 🤞🤞🤞

[Cornwaller]

There appears to be a jump in the "logic". So there are more nutrient deficiencies. So firstly is that an increased awareness because of more testing or is it real? If it is real then what factors are associated with the cases: age, diet, carnivore, vegetarian, income, education, co morbidities, medication etc, then if there are associations can the associations be scrutinised to see if they could be causation and could estimates be established as to contribution of the various factors.

The problem with jumping to food poverty is that whilst it could be an important indirect cause: it might also not be, or it might be part of a complex Web of causes and the opportunity to understand the issue and devise possible improvement strategies are lost.

[Myoldcat]

Yes, lots of additional questions to be asked!