Erythrocyte vitamin B12 activity in healthy Indian lactovegetarians.

Plasma and erythrocyte vitamin B12 was measured in apparently healthy Indian lactovegetarians and compared with the healthy non-vegetarians from the same population. Comparison of the mean values for routine haematological parameters revealed no significant difference in various dietetic groups. The plasma vitamin B12 levels were distinctly lower in the lactovegetarians than in the non-vegetarians. However, the mean erythrocyte vitamin B12 levels in different dietetic groups showed no significant difference.