Low levels of vitamin B12 have been found to be associated with aging, autism and schizophrenia, a new study from an international research group led by Richard Deth finds.
The study, published last month in the journal PLOS One, found that levels of vitamin B12, also known as cobalamin, significantly drop in the elderly population. At the same time, the vitamin levels are much lower in people who have autism or schizophrenia.
The significant low levels of the vitamin found in those individuals with the condition will explain why they usually experience symptoms of degrading neurological and neuropsychiatric function, Deth, a professor of pharmacology at Nova Southeastern University's (NSU) College of Pharmacy, explained in a press release.
To arrive at their findings, Deth and his team studied the brains of over 60 dead patients, varying in age, the youngest being a fetus and the oldest an 80-year-old. The study also included brains of nine individuals with schizophrenia and 12 who had autism.
Speaking to Medical Research, Deth explain that the findings should encourage clinicians to "address oxidative stress" and promote "adequate brain levels of vitamin B12" as part of the "clinical goal" for the aforementioned conditions.
Deth added that the best way to prevent oxidative stress is to avoid toxicants that can cause a decrease in antioxidants in the body. Deth also stressed that measuring vitamin B12 levels with blood tests does not "give the full picture of its status in the brain."
In his interview with the publication, Deth also explained that their findings are consistent with studies that showed how environmental factors play an important role in causing autism.
Vitamin B12 plays a vital role in the formation of red blood cells and maintenance of the nervous system. The vitamin is abundant in animal proteins, but one can also get it through B12-fortified plant-based foods.
