Prevalence of low serum folate and vitamin B12 in an older Australian population.

OBJECTIVE To examine the prevalence of low serum folate and vitamin B12, in association with elevated serum homocysteine, in a representative sample of older Australians. METHODS During 1997-2000, 3,508 persons aged 50+ years were examined in a population-based cohort study conducted in two postcodes, west of Sydney, Australia. Of these, 2,901 participants (82.7%) provided fasting blood for estimates of serum folate, vitamin B12 and total homocysteine. RESULTS Low serum B12 (< 185 pmol/L) was found in 22.9% of participants and low serum folate (< 6.8 nmol/L) in 2.3% of participants. Among those people with very low serum vitamin B12 (< 125 pmol/L) and low serum folate, 51% had elevated homocysteine. CONCLUSIONS Low serum levels of vitamin B12 and elevated serum homocysteine are relatively frequent in older Australians. IMPLICATIONS Appropriate public health action should be considered to reduce the prevalence of low serum vitamin B12 and elevated homocysteine in older Australians.