Results of a pilot study to provide evidence on the efficacy of vitamin B12 to normalise elevated homocysteine of vegetarians

Homocysteine can be remethylated through the major folic cycle path. It is recycled to methionine in a reaction catalyzed by the enzyme methionine synthase and is absolutely dependent on the essential vitamin B12 methylcobalamin (MeCbl). All other forms of vitamin B12 must be converted to MeCbl prior to their usage. This can prove to be problematic, particularly for the aged. Vegetarians are known to be susceptible to vitamin B12 deficiency, due to a lack of dietary animal produce, which can elevate plasma total homocysteine (tHcy). There is positive evidence that links elevated plasma (tHcy) with cardiovascular disease (CVD). The specific objective of the present study was to establish if supplementary MeCbl will optimise elevated levels of plasma tHcy of vitamin B12 deficient vegetarians