Folate and vitamin B12 (cobalamin) blood levels in elderly persons in geriatric homes.

Significantly lower mean plasma and whole blood folate levels were noted in elderly persons in geriatric homes as compared to mean values of a reference sample group. The vitamin B12 levels of the elderly persons did not differ significantly from the reference values. More elderly, however, had low B12 values when assayed with a specific binder than when assayed with a non-specific binder.