Your patient states he has been following a strict vegan diet for the last 10 years, which could mean a deficiency in which of the following vitamins?

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BlackTom AI · Accepted Answer

Question restatement: A patient on a strict vegan diet for 10 years could have a deficiency in which vitamin?

Option 1: B12
- This choice is plausible because vitamin B12 (cobalamin) is primarily found in animal-derived foods. Long-term vegan diets can lead to B12 deficiency if no reliable fortified sources or supplements are used, since plant foods contain little to no bioavailable B12. The deficiency can impact nerve function and hematologic health if not addressed.

Option 2: C (ascorbic acid)
- Vitamin C is abundant in fruits and vegetables, which are commonly consumed on a vegan diet. Unless the diet is severely restricted or fruit/veg intake is extremely poor, a deficiency is unlikely. The body’s requirement for vitamin C is relatively easy to meet with plant foods, and scurvy is rare today in populations with access to produce.

Option 3: B1 (thiamine)
- Thiamine is found in a variety of foods, including whole grains, legumes, and nuts. A vegan diet can provide adequate thiamine if it includes whole grains and diverse plant sources. While deficiency is possible in very poor or restricted diets, it is not specifically associated with veganism alone unless intake is very limited.

Option 4: B9 (folate)
- Folate is abundant in leafy greens, legumes, and fortified grains, which are common in many vegan patterns. A well-planned vegan diet typically provides sufficient folate, and while folate deficiency can occur in general populations (e.g., during pregnancy), it is not uniquely linked to veganism.

Synthesis: Among the listed vitamins, the nutrient most strongly tied to long-term vegan dietary patterns due to limited natural animal-derived sources is vitamin B12. The other vitamins (C, B1, B9) are generally readily available from plant-based foods through typical vegan intake, making deficiency less specifically associated with vegan diets unless overall diet quality is poor or intake is unbalanced.

OC_DHYG430_202510FAII_BL-1 Midterm

Your patient states he has been following a strict vegan diet for the last 10 years, which could mean a deficiency in which of the following vitamins?

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