A British study linked low levels of vitamin B12 to brain shrinkage older people. Vitamin B12 which is found in meat, milk, fish and eggs can help keep memory loss at bay in old age, and failure to properly absorb the vitamin has been implicated in various neurological disorders.

Published Tuesday in Neurology, The University of Oxford study analyzed 107 men and women with an average age of 73 who were free from any mental impairment. M.R.I. scans to measure brain volume and blood tests to record vitamin B12 levels were done on all the subjects first and then they were divided into three groups, based on their level of the vitamin. For five years subsequently they were followed with annual scans and physical and mental examinations. The researchers found that the group with the lowest levels of vitamin B12 lost twice as much brain volume compared to those with the highest levels and the difference was marked even after controlling for initial brain size, age, sex, education, cognitive test scores and various measures of blood chemistry.

Professor David Smith, who directs the Oxford Project to Investigate Memory and Ageing, said “This study adds another dimension to our understanding of the effects of B vitamins on the brain – the rate of shrinkage of the brain as we age may be partly influenced by what we eat.”

There have been studies that have suggested that two out of five people are deficient in the vitamin with the problem being more marked in the elderly. Brain shrinkage is said to have a strong link to increased chances of developing dementia at a later age. Rebecca Wood, the chief executive of the Alzheimer’s Research Trust, said “This study suggests that consuming more vitamin B12 through eating meat, fish, fortified cereals or milk as part of a balanced diet might help protect the brain. Liver and shellfish are particularly rich sources of B12. Vitamin B12 deficiency is a common problem among elderly people in the UK and has been linked to declining memory and dementia.” She added that further research was needed.

“Shrinkage is usually associated with the development of dementia,” said Dr Susanne Sorensen, from the Alzheimer’s Society. “As vitamin B may be given as a food supplement, it may be useful to include tests of vitamin B levels in the general assessment of health of older individuals,” she said. “This is another example of why it is crucial for people to lead a healthy lifestyle with a balanced diet rich in B vitamins and antioxidants. The best way to reduce your risk of developing dementia is to keep active, eat a balanced diet, don’t smoke and visit your GP to get your blood pressure and cholesterol checked,” she added.

David Smith, an emeritus professor of pharmacology at Oxford and the lead author of the study, said the study showed an association, but not a causal connection, “This doesn’t mean you should go out and buy vitamin B12 tablets tomorrow,” he said. “We need to know the results of a clinical trial in which we’re testing whether B12 does actually prevent brain shrinkage.”