Low levels of Vitamin B12 Increase Risk of Spina Bifida

A new study on B12 from Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland. 

I have 2 questions;

1. How did women in a strong meat eating country like Ireland  get low B12.

2. Is there any information out there on what the appropriate B12 levels of a vegetarian are?

B12 Links

What every vegan should know about B12.

Vitamin B12 are you getting it?

How does a vegetarian get their B12?

When I became pregnant for my first child my B12 levels read very low
and I was told I had to raise them for the health of my baby. I began
eating dairy products at that point as I love a “roots” life and would
not be able to take a vitamin pill every day for the rest of my life.

It is interesting to note that after almost 20 years of eating dairy in
small amounts my B12 readings are the same, very low. I wonder if the
criteria used for the “safe” levels are derived from those who eat meat.
After all these years I have never shown any signs of B12 deficiency and
to what I know it takes about 5 years. I am not always tired, I do not
have tingling or lack of feeling in my extremities. I would appreciate
comments from others on the ‘B12 for vegetarians’ issue.