Could it be B12? What every parent needs to know about vitamin B12 deficiency

Husband-and-wife team and medical professionals Pacholok and Stuart's dense book on the health risks and implications of vitamin B12 deficiency cites neurological disorders, mental illness, and even autism as outcomes. Typically found in meat, fish, and dairy products, B12 ("cobalamin") is a water-soluble vitamin that plays a key role in brain and nervous system functioning, in addition to the formation of red blood cells. Beginning with an overview of the vitamin, the authors move into risks and dangers of deficiencies and how those symptoms may appear or play out in pregnant women, nursing mothers, infants, toddlers, preteens, and adolescents. While the authors have clearly scoured the literature in depth, the content is so scientific that only medical professionals will be able to put the material into context (e.g., "People with vascular disease should always have their Hcy, MMA, serum B12, and folate levels measured"). The title and pediatric edition statement also make the intended audience unclear, and some of the findings will likely be questioned in the greater scientific literature. VERDICT Recommended only for academic libraries with extensive nutrition collections. © Copyright 2016. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.