title: Vitamin B12 deficiency in persons with intellectual disability in a vegetarian residential care community.
abstract: The goal of this study was to determine the prevalence of vitamin B12 deficiency among intellectually disabled persons in a vegetarian remedial community in Israel. In this community, 47 individuals with intellectual disability (ID) live in 7 enlarged families in a kibbutz style agricultural setting. These 47 individuals and 17 of their caregivers were screened for vitamin B12 deficiency. There were 25.5% of the disabled vs. 11.8% of the caregivers found to have levels of vitamin B12 lower than 157 pg/ml. It is concluded that persons with ID in this vegetarian residential care community seemed to be at a higher risk for vitamin B12 deficiency.
authors.affiliation: Kfar Rafael Residential Care Center, Clalit Health Services and Division for Community Health, Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel. morad@bgumail.bgu.ac.il
authors.forename: Mohammed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Morad
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gringols
authors.forename: Isack
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kandel
authors.forename: Joav
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Merrick
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017028:Caregivers; D014676:Diet, Vegetarian; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008607:Intellectual Disability / Q000150:complications* / Q000628:therapy; D007557:Israel / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012112:Residential Facilities / Q000592:standards; D012307:Risk Factors; D014805:Vitamin B 12 / Q000097:blood; D014806:Vitamin B 12 Deficiency / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*
chemical_list: D014805:Vitamin B 12