Severe vitamin B12 deficiency in an infant associated with a maternal deficiency and a strict vegetarian diet

The authors present a case of severe megaloblastic anemia and neurologic damage due to vitamin B-12 deficiency in a 6-month-old infant. The cause of the vitamin deficiency was a maternal dietary deficiency because of a strict vegetarian diet and prolonged breast-feeding. The importance of early recognition of significant maternal vitamin B-12 deficiency during pregnancy and lactation in vegetarians is emphasized so that appropriate supplementation can be given and irreversible neurologic damage in the infant prevented.