scholarly journals The prevalence of low serum levels of Vitamin D, Vitamin B12, folate and ferritin in adolescents: Single center experience

2021 ◽  
Vol 104 (2) ◽  
pp. 003685042110076
Author(s):  
Nazmi Mutlu Karakaş

Background: In this study, the aim was to evaluate the prevalence of vitamin D, vitamin B12, ferritin, and folate deficiencies in adolescence to clarify the need for early diagnosis and therapy. Methods: The medical records of adolescents between 10 and 18 years of age between 01 September 2018 and 28 February 2019 as healthy with non-specific complaints, or due to well-child care visits, were analyzed retrospectively. Results: A total of 1847/2507 (73.6%) adolescents were included in the study. The prevalence of vitamin D deficiency was 25.7% (n: 178/691). Vitamin B12 deficiency prevalence was 69.2% (n: 753/1088). The prevalence of anemia and ferritin deficiency was 4.8% and 13.26%. The prevalence of folate deficiency was 37.9% (n: 413/1088). VDD prevalence was statistically significantly higher in females than males (F/M:116/62). VB12D prevalence, the number and mean age of females with hemoglobin deficiency, and low ferritin levels was found to be statistically significantly higher in females than males. Conclusions: The prevalence of vitamin D, vitamin B12, folate deficiency and low ferritin levels was found to be high among adolescents. In particular, adolescents admitting with non-specific complaints and for control purposes in big cities must be considered to be at risk for the deficiency of these vitamins and low level of ferritin.

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 54-58
Author(s):  
Vinay Krishnamurthy ◽  
Akhila Rao Kerekoppa

Background: Diabetes is one of the largest global health emergencies of the 21st century. Prevalence of anemia in diabetic patients is two to three times higher than for patients with comparable renal impairment and iron stores in the general population. Aims and Objective: This study was done to analyse the prevalence of anemia and its profile in patients with preserved renal function. Materials and Methods: One-hundred diabetic patients with anemia with normal renal functions were selected. Complete blood count, peripheral blood smear, iron studies, vitamin B12 levels were assessed. Diabetic control was monitored by HbA1c. Patients were identified to have specific type of anemia, based on iron profile and vitamin B12 levels. Severity of anemia was also assessed. Appropriate statistical tests were applied to analyse the results. Results: Mean age of subjects in the study group was 53.4±13.6 years. The mean haemoglobin level was 9.41±2.18 g/dl. Out of the 100 cases, 43 patients had iron deficiency anemia, 40 patients had anemia of inflammation, and 8 patients had vitamin B12 deficiency, 8 patients had combined iron and vitamin B12 deficiency, and 1 patient had pancytopenia. Mean HbA1c was higher in iron deficient individuals with a significant p value and mean HbA1c was lower in Vitamin B12 deficient individuals. Among the cases, 16% had mild anemia, 61% had moderate anemia, and 23% had severe anemia. Severe anemia had a significantly lower HbA1c, which was statistically significant. Conclusion: According to our study, iron deficiency anemia was the commonest, followed by anemia of inflammation in diabetic patients with preserved renal function. Diabetes being a pro-inflammatory state had a higher incidence of anemia of inflammation compared to general population. We have to identify and acknowledge the higher prevalence of Anemia of Inflammation in diabetic patients in the absence of renal dysfunction.


Blood ◽  
1982 ◽  
Vol 59 (3) ◽  
pp. 634-640
Author(s):  
MR Taheri ◽  
RG Wickremasinghe ◽  
BF Jackson ◽  
AV Hoffbrand

The role of vitamin B12 in the folate dependent biosynthesis of thymidine nucleotides is controversial. In an attempt to clarify this, three methods have been used to assess the relative efficacy of vitamin B12 (hydroxocobalamin) and various folate analogues in titrated concentrations at correcting ‘de novo’ thymidylate synthesis by megaloblastic human marrow cells: (1) The deoxyuridine (dU) suppression test which analyses the reduction in (3H)-thymidine labeling of DNA by unlabeled dU. Marrow cells were also labeled with (6–3H)-dU with assessment of (2) its incorporation into DNA and (3) the accumulation of (6–3H)-deoxyuridine monophosphate (3H-dUMP). The three methods gave similar results. In both, N6-formyl tetrahydrofolate (formyl-FH4) was the most effective agent at correcting thymidylate synthesis in megaloblastic anemia due to vitamin B12 or folate deficiency. Vitamin B12 corrected the lesion in vitamin B12 deficiency but not in folate deficiency. Tetrahydrofolate (FH4) and folic acid were effective in deficiency of vitamin B12 or folate, although in both deficiencies they were less effective than formyl-FH4. Methyl-FH4 was effective in folate deficiency but not in vitamin B12 deficiency. These results confirm the failure of methyl-FH4 utilisation in vitamin B12 deficiency. They suggest that if vitamin B12 is needed in the formylation of FH4, this is a minor role in provision of the correct coenzyme for thymidylate synthesis compared with its major role of provision of FH4 from methyl- FH4.


2017 ◽  
Vol 35 (5) ◽  
pp. 463-471
Author(s):  
Shuzi Zheng ◽  
Chaoqun Wu ◽  
Wei Yang ◽  
Xuanping Xia ◽  
Xiuqing Lin ◽  
...  

Objectives: The study aimed to investigate the association of Crohn's disease (CD) with transcobalamin II (TCN2) polymorphisms and serum homocysteine, folate, and vitamin B12 levels. Methods:TCN2 (rs1801198, rs9606756) were genotyped by iMLDR in 389 CD patients and 746 controls. Furthermore, 102 CD patients and 153 controls were randomly selected for examination of serum homocysteine, folate, and vitamin B12 levels by enzymatic cycling assay and chemiluminescence immunoassay, respectively. Results: Mutant allele (G) and genotype (AG + GG) of (rs9606756) were higher in CD patients than in controls (both p < 0.05). So were they in ileocolonic CD patients and stricturing CD patients compared to controls (all p < 0.05). Mutant allele (G) and genotype (CG + GG) of (rs1801198) were more prevalent in stricturing CD patients than in controls (both p < 0.05). Compared to controls, average homocysteine level was enhanced in CD patients (p = 0.003), whereas average folate and vitamin B12 levels were reduced in CD patients (both p < 0.001). The prevalence of hyperhomocysteinemia, folate deficiency, and vitamin B12 deficiency was higher in CD patients than in controls (all p < 0.01). Both folate deficiency and vitamin B12 deficiency were independently related to risk of CD (both p < 0.01). Conclusion:TCN2 (rs1801198, rs9606756) polymorphisms as well as folate deficiency and vitamin B12 deficiency are correlated with CD.


2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-4 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alberto Fragasso ◽  
Clara Mannarella ◽  
Angela Ciancio ◽  
Oronzo Scarciolla ◽  
Nicoletta Nuzzolese ◽  
...  

Background. Measurement of serum cobalamin (Cbl) levels is the standard investigation for assessing vitamin B12 deficiency. Falsely increased values of Cbl can be caused by alcoholic liver disease. Measurement of total vitamin B12 serum levels might be misleading in alcoholics, because a tissue metabolic deficiency is possible even with normal serum Cbl levels. Holotranscobalamin (HoloTC), the Cbl metabolically active fraction, is considered as a better index of vitamin B12 deficiency.Methods. For assessing vitamin B12 status, we evaluated 22 adult alcoholic male patients by measuring in parallel serum Cbl, serum folate and red blood cell folate levels, HoloTC levels by the AxSYM assay.Results. HoloTC values were reduced in 3 alcoholics with borderline-low Cbl values. Significant positive correlations were found between serum Cbl and HoloTC levels, serum Cbl and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT).Conclusion. HoloTC measurement is a useful option for assessing vitamin B12 status in alcoholics, particularly in the subjects with borderline Cbl values and may be considered an early marker of vitamin B12 deficiency.


2017 ◽  
Vol 46 (Suppl_3) ◽  
pp. iii13-iii59 ◽  
Author(s):  
Muhammad Ghaznain ◽  
Teresa Mary Donnelly ◽  
Louise Halpenny

2020 ◽  
Vol 154 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S87-S87
Author(s):  
S N Mattox ◽  
D Kozman ◽  
G Singh

Abstract Introduction/Objective To identify clinical/laboratory factors associated with folate deficiency in tertiary care patients. Methods We reviewed the medical records of 1019 patients with serum folate &lt;7.0 ng/mL, 301 patients with serum folate of 15 ng/mL, and 300 patients with serum folate &gt; 23 ng/mL. Results Serum prealbumin levels were subnormal in 54.8% of patients with serum folate &lt;7.0 ng/mL. Vitamin B12, hemoglobin, and serum albumin levels were significantly lower in the &lt;7.0 ng/mL folate group. In 62.4% of patients with serum folate &lt;7.0 ng/mL, 1 or more markers of malnutrition were present. The low-folate group had a significantly higher prevalence of gastrointestinal (GI) disorders, sepsis, and abnormal serum creatinine level. There were no significant differences in the 2 groups regarding diabetes; behavioral/neurological disorders, including drug and alcohol abuse; bariatric surgery; or a diagnosis of malnutrition. The average body mass index (BMI) for the &lt;7.0 ng/mL and 15 ng/mL folate groups was significantly different (28.89 and 28.31, respectively), although the difference does not appear to be clinically meaningful. Conclusion The prevalence of folate deficiency depends on what is considered a normal serum folate level. Approximately 10% of tertiary care patients have levels &lt;7.0 ng/mL and exhibit other markers of malnutrition. It is recommended that patients with GI disorders, chronic kidney disease, and sepsis be routinely tested for serum folate levels, before administration of vitamin supplements. Patients with serum folate levels &lt;7.0 ng/mL should be evaluated for malnutrition, despite BMI &gt; 25. Folate supplementation should be administered only after excluding coexisting vitamin B12 deficiency.


2018 ◽  
Vol 72 (4) ◽  
pp. 265-271 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ili Margalit ◽  
Eytan Cohen ◽  
Elad Goldberg ◽  
Ilan Krause

Background: Vitamin B12 deficiency is associated with hematological, neurological, and cardiovascular consequences. Epidemiologic data on these related illnesses indicate gender differences. Methods: A cross-sectional study was designed to examine gender differences in vitamin B12 deficiency among a healthy population. Data from healthy individuals aged 18–65, who were provided with a routine medical evaluation during 2000–2014, were retrieved from the medical charts. Individuals with background illnesses and those who had used medications or nutritional supplements were excluded. Vitamin B12 deficiency was defined by 2 cutoff values (206 and 140 pmol/L). The multivariate analysis was adjusted for age, body mass index, estimated glomerular filtration rate, hyperhomocysteinemia, folate deficiency, albumin, and transferrin saturation. Sensitivity analyses were implemented by excluding individuals with anemia, hyperhomocysteinemia, or folate deficiency and by age stratification. Results: In all, 7,963 individuals met the inclusion criteria. Serum vitamin B12 mean levels were 312.36 and 284.31 pmol/L for women and men respectively (p < 0.001). Deficiency prevalence was greater for men (25.5%) in comparison with women (18.9%; p < 0.001). Men were strongly associated with severe deficiency (adjusted OR 2.26; 95% CI 1.43–3.56). Conclusions: Among the healthy population, men are susceptible to vitamin B12 deficiency. This can be explained by neither diet habits nor estrogen effects. Genetic variations are therefore hypothesized to play a role.


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