Saturday Aug 2, 2014 (foodconsumer.org) -- Vitamin B12 deficiency is associated with a few neurocognitive disorders including dementia.  A review suggests that vitamin b12 supplementation may restore vitamin b12 and delay or prevent neurological disorders.

Health Quality Ontario conducted the review of 18 studies sorted out from MEDLINE, Embase, EBSCO Cumulative Index to Nursing & Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), the Cochrane Library and others.  The studies of interest were published prior to Aug 2012.

The review confirms the potential role of low vitamin b12 in neurocognitive disorders like dementia. The review also finds treatment with vitamin B12 and folate in patients with mild cognitive impairment appears to slow the rate of brain atrophy and oral vitamin B12 is effective in treating b12 deficiency.

Vegans or vegetarians may be prone to becoming vitamin B12 deficient as this vitamin does not occur in plant-based foods.  Synthetic forms of vitamin b12 are available and they can take vitamin b12 pills to avoid b12 deficiency and potentially neurological disorders like dementia.  (David Liu)

Reference: Health Quality Ontario.  Vitamin B12 and cognitive function: an evidence-based analysis.  Ont Health Technol Assess Ser. 2013 Nov 1;13(23):1-45.