Vegetarianism and B12 - What is the Latest?

Because vitamin B12 only occurs naturally in foods of animal origin and because fermented foods, nori, chlorella, spirulina, algae and unfortified nutritional yeast cannot be relied on as adequate or practical sources of vitamin B12, vegans should regularly consume vitamin B12-fortified foods or vitamin B12 supplements. Even lacto- and lacto-ovo-vegetarians could benefit from vitamin B12-fortified foods or supplements, as 1 cup of milk and one egg per day does not provide enough vitamin B12 to meet dietary recommendations for this nutrient. 

See the full practice question, including the Evidence Summary, Remarks, Evidence Statements, Comments and References.

Have you looked at the Dementia Knowledge Pathway lately? 

These are updated practice questions:

• Are there any dietary patterns that can help prevent or treat cognitive decline, mild cognitive impairment or dementia? 

• What is the association between alcohol intake and cognitive decline, mild cognitive impairment or dementia?

• What is the association between caffeine intake and cognitive decline, mild cognitive impairment and dementia?

• Does omega-3 fatty acids/PUFAs supplementation help to prevent or treat cognitive decline, mild cognitive impairment or dementia?

• Are there any vitamin and/or mineral supplements that can help prevent or treat cognitive decline, mild cognitive impairment or dementia?

And these are the new practice questions:

• Should individuals diagnosed with dementia be screened, assessed and regularly monitored for malnutrition?

• What is recommended with regards to the provision of meals (food and beverages) to support nutritional intakes among those living with dementia, particularly in care settings?

• What is the evidence and recommendations with regard to the use of artificial nutrition and hydration (parenteral and enteral nutrition) among those living with dementia?

• Is overweight or obesity associated with a greater risk of mild cognitive impairment and dementia? And if so, can diet and lifestyle interventions for weight reduction or control help prevent or treat cognitive decline, mild cognitive impairment or dementia?

• Is diabetes associated with a greater risk of mild cognitive impairment and dementia? If so, can diet and lifestyle interventions for diabetes help prevent/treat or reduce the risk of cognitive decline, mild cognitive impairment or dementia?

• Is hypertension associated with a greater risk of mild cognitive impairment and dementia? If so, can diet and lifestyle interventions for hypertension help prevent/treat or reduce the risk of cognitive decline, mild cognitive impairment or dementia?

• Is dyslipidemia associated with a greater risk of mild cognitive impairment and dementia? If so, can diet and lifestyle interventions for dyslipidemia help prevent/treat or reduce the risk of cognitive decline, mild cognitive impairment or dementia? 

• Does lecithin supplementation help to prevent or treat cognitive decline, mild cognitive impairment or dementia?

• Are higher intakes of or greater exposure to the metal elements aluminum, lead, cadmium, mercury and iron associated with a greater risk of cognitive decline, mild cognitive impairment or dementia?

• Does acetyl-L-carnitine supplementation help to prevent or treat cognitive decline, mild cognitive impairment or dementia?

• Does Gingko biloba help to prevent or treat cognitive decline, mild cognitive impairment or dementia?

• Does ginseng help to prevent or treat cognitive decline, mild cognitive impairment or dementia?

We Need Your Expertise: PEN^® Reviewers Needed 

We need reviewers within the next few months for:

• Allergic Disease - Probiotics and Prebiotics, Adult
• Cancer - Nutritional Implications
• Cardiovascular Disease
• Celiac Disease
• Fertility - Female and Male
• Food Safety - Foodborne Illness
• Gastrointestinal System - Postoperative Feeding
• Infant Nutrition - Infant Formula
• Nephrology - Kidney Stones
• Nutrition Assessment, Adults; Community-based practice
• Postoperative Feeding
• Probiotics - Pediatric Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease
• Weight/Obesity - Bariatric Surgery

There are currently more than 400 PEN Reviewers. We would love for you to join this group and share your expertise and energy. For more information, contact http://www.pennutrition.com/BecomeAuthor.aspx.

Open Access to COVID-19 Content Continues

• COVID-19
  • COVID-19 and Nutrition Background
  • COVID-19 Related Tools and Resources
• Trending Topics
• PEN eNews.

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Welcomes and Farewells 

In the last six months, there have been a number of staffing changes to our Global PEN Team. 

We are very pleased to welcome:

• Elizabeth Manafò as the new PEN Content Manager
• Rebecca Mete as the new lead for the PEN Team at Dietitians Australia

We welcome Elizabeth and Rebecca to the PEN Team and look forward to working with you. 

We sadly bid farewell to:

• Judy Bauer, PEN Translational Research Leader in Australia, who has retired after 10 years.
• Kerri Staden, PEN Resource Manager, who has retired after 11 years
• Heather Petrie, PEN Evidence Analyst for the last 14 years.

We thank Judy, Kerri and Heather for their many years of faithful service championing the PEN System and wish them all the best in their new adventures!

Country Flags in the PEN^® System - What do they mean?

Country flags have been a means to indicate country involvement and/or country-specific content within the PEN System for a number of years. However, with growing partnerships, the sheer number of flags has increased, as has the content in the PEN System. As a result, there has been feedback that the flags are less intuitive for users. 

The flags for knowledge pathways were removed but a small globe will show under PEN Summaries of Recommendation and Evidence (SRE), Practice Guidance Toolkits and Backgrounds if there are multiple country-specific recommendations. When you start reading a Summary of Recommendation and Evidence, Practice Guidance Toolkit or a Background, you will notice at the top of the document a checkmark beside a flag. If you uncheck the flag, the country-specific information will be hidden in the document, making it easier and quicker for you to find the relevant information you need. How cool is that?! We hope that these changes will enhance your PEN user experience.