HOMEPRODUCTSCOMPANYCONTACTFAQResearchDictionaryPharmaSign Up FREE or Login

Mandatory fortification of the food supply with cobalamin: an idea whose time has not yet come.

Abstract
The success of folic acid fortification has generated consideration of similar fortification with cobalamin for its own sake but more so to mitigate possible neurologic risks from increased folate intake by cobalamin-deficient persons. However, the folate model itself, the success of which was predicted by successful clinical trials and the known favorable facts of high folic acid bioavailability and the infrequency of folate malabsorption, may not apply to cobalamin fortification. Cobalamin bioavailability is more restricted than folic acid and is unfortunately poorest in persons deficient in cobalamin. Moreover, clinical trials to demonstrate actual health benefits of relevant oral doses have not yet been done in persons with mild subclinical deficiency, who are the only practical targets of cobalamin fortification because >94% of persons with clinically overt cobalamin deficiency have severe malabsorption and therefore cannot respond to normal fortification doses. However, it is only in the severely malabsorptive disorders, such as pernicious anemia, not subclinical deficiency, that neurologic deterioration following folic acid therapy has been described to date. It is still unknown whether mild deficiency states, which usually arise from normal absorption or only food-bound cobalamin malabsorption, have real health consequences or how often they progress to overt clinical cobalamin deficiency. Reports of cognitive or other risks in the common subclinical deficiency state, although worrisome, have been inconsistent. Moreover, their observational nature proved neither causative connections nor documented health benefits. Extensive work, especially randomized clinical trials, must be done before mandatory dietary intervention on a national scale can be justified.
AuthorsRalph Carmel
JournalJournal of inherited metabolic disease (J Inherit Metab Dis) Vol. 34 Issue 1 Pg. 67-73 (Feb 2011) ISSN: 1573-2665 [Electronic] United States
PMID20577903 (Publication Type: Evaluation Study, Journal Article, Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural, Review)
Chemical References
  • Vitamin B 12
Topics
  • Anemia, Pernicious (prevention & control)
  • Dietary Supplements (standards, statistics & numerical data)
  • Food Supply (standards)
  • Health Plan Implementation (organization & administration, standards, statistics & numerical data)
  • Humans
  • Mandatory Programs (organization & administration, statistics & numerical data)
  • Vitamin B 12 (administration & dosage, therapeutic use)
  • Vitamin B 12 Deficiency (diet therapy, drug therapy)

Join CureHunter, for free Research Interface BASIC access!

Take advantage of free CureHunter research engine access to explore the best drug and treatment options for any disease. Find out why thousands of doctors, pharma researchers and patient activists around the world use CureHunter every day.
Realize the full power of the drug-disease research graph!


Choose Username:
Email:
Password:
Verify Password:
Enter Code Shown: