How common is vitamin B12 deficiency or folate deficiency?
Both vitamin B12 deficiency and folate deficiency are more common in older people, affecting around 1 in 10 people above the age of 75. Vitamin B12 deficiency is rare in younger people, although those who follow a strict vegan diet (a diet that only contains food from plants) may be more at risk. Pernicious anaemia, which is the most common cause of vitamin B12 deficiency, affects 1 in 10,000 people in northern Europe.
