It does sound like you had a deficiency and it would be interesting to know if that was resolvable. Since getting pregnant I've been craving meat (and marmite!) and succumbing to it as it's easier than finding out whatever it is I've been lacking. I do wonder if I could get back to a properly balanced vegetarian or low meat diet though so if you do find out alternatives that help you I'm interested to know about them. I suspect I tended to do a meat free diet rather than an active vegetarian one with enough meat replacement things in.