Low levels of vitamin B12 linked to brain lesions

This study was published in the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry 2009 Feb;80(2):149-57

Study title and authors:
Plasma vitamin B12 status and cerebral white-matter lesions.

de Lau LM, Smith AD, Refsum H, Johnston C, Breteler MM.
Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Erasmus Medical Centre, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18977824

White matter lesions are small areas of dead cells found in parts of the brain that act as connectors. They also appear in some cases of migraine headaches and in the brains of those who have suffered strokes or have progressive neurological diseases, such as multiple sclerosis and Alzheimer’s.

The study evaluated the association of vitamin B12 levels with white-matter lesions among 1,019 non-demented elderly participants.

The study found that low levels of vitamin B12 were significantly associated with greater severity of white-matter lesions.

Usable Vitamin B12 is only found in animal foods. The richest sources are liver, beef, lamb, eggs and seafood.