A study of the prevalence of serum vitamin B12 and folic acid deficiency in Western Maharashtra

ABSTRACT Background: Micronutrients such as B12 and folic acid deficiencies are found in higher number in HIV-infected patients. Objective: We conducted a study to examine the effect of Vitamin B12 and folic acid supplementation on neuropsychiatric manifestations, CD4 count, and anthropometric measurements in HIV-positive patients. Materials and Methods: Three different groups of HIV patients, namely, HIV patients with tuberculosis, HIV patients with neuropsychiatric manifestations, and asymptomatic HIV patients with 50 patients in each group were included in the study. Baseline and follow-up CD4 count, anthropometric measurements, neuropsychiatric assessments, Vitamin B12, and folic acid estimation were done. Results: The prevalence of folic acid deficiency was 27.1% in Group I, 31.9% in Group II, and 23.4% in Group III. The prevalence of Vitamin B12 deficiency was 8.16% in Group I, 6.12% in Group II, and 4.16% in Group III. HIV patients with neuropsychiatric manifestations were noted to have the lowest mean mini–mental score. After the supplementation of vitamins, anthropometric measurements, MMSE as well as Hamilton depression scores, improved in all the three groups whereas Hamilton anxiety scores improved only in Group III. The CD4 count also improved in Groups I and II after the supplementation of vitamins. Conclusion: Folic acid deficiency was highest among neuropsychiatric patients. The majority of people who had a folic acid deficiency have shown improvement in their neuropsychiatric assessment scores as well as CD4 count after its supplementation.

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Vitamin B12 and folic acid deficiency in chronic pancreatitis: a relevant disorder?

Klinische Wochenschrift ◽

10.1007/bf01665861 ◽

1991 ◽

Vol 69 (4) ◽

pp. 168-172 ◽

Cited By ~ 24

Author(s):

B. Glasbrenner ◽

P. Malfertheiner ◽

M. Büchler ◽

K. Kuhn ◽

H. Ditschuneit

Keyword(s):

Folic Acid ◽

Chronic Pancreatitis ◽

Vitamin B12 ◽

Folic Acid Deficiency ◽

Acid Deficiency

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Morphology, Dipeptidases and Disaccharidases of Small Intestinal Mucosa in Vitamin B12 and Folic Acid Deficiency

Scandinavian Journal of Haematology ◽

10.1111/j.1600-0609.1972.tb00927.x ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 9 (1-6) ◽

pp. 167-173 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

N. O. BERG ◽

A. DAHLQVIST ◽

T. LINDBERG ◽

K. LINDSTRAND ◽

Å. NORDÉN

Keyword(s):

Folic Acid ◽

Vitamin B12 ◽

Intestinal Mucosa ◽

Folic Acid Deficiency ◽

Small Intestinal Mucosa ◽

Acid Deficiency ◽

Small Intestinal

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Malabsorption of Vitamin B12 in Homozygous ß-Thalassemia

Nuklearmedizin ◽

10.1055/s-0038-1624959 ◽

1976 ◽

Vol 15 (04) ◽

pp. 195-196 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

P. Vlachos ◽

D. Liakakos

Keyword(s):

Folic Acid ◽

Vitamin B12 ◽

Liver Damage ◽

Intrinsic Factor ◽

Folic Acid Deficiency ◽

Acid Deficiency

SummarySchilling tests were performed in ten children aged 5—12 years suffering from homozygous β-thalass-emia. 57Co labelled vitamin B12 values excreted in the urine have been found much lower than normal and remained low when the same procedure was repeated with the addition of intrinsic factor. The possible factors responsible for this malabsorption of vitamin B12 seemed to be liver damage and folic acid deficiency.

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Differentiation between Vitamin B12—deficient and Folic Acid—deficient Megaloblastic Anemias with C14—Histidine

Blood ◽

10.1182/blood.v21.4.447.447 ◽

1963 ◽

Vol 21 (4) ◽

pp. 447-461 ◽

Cited By ~ 22

Author(s):

MATHEWS B. FISH ◽

MYRON POLLYCOVE ◽

THOMAS V. FEICHTMEIR

Keyword(s):

Folic Acid ◽

Vitamin B12 ◽

Specific Activity ◽

Megaloblastic Anemia ◽

Vitamin B12 Deficiency ◽

Normal Subjects ◽

Intermediary Metabolism ◽

Folic Acid Deficiency ◽

Acid Deficiency ◽

B12 Deficiency

Abstract Intermediary metabolism of the monocarbon pool and histidine in normal subjects and patients with megaloblastic anemia was studied by continuous measurement of pulmonary excretion of C14O2 and urinary excretion of C14 after injection of L-histidine-2(ring)-C14. Cumulative pulmonary and renal excretion of C14 for 1 month by two normal subjects approximates 45 per cent of the amount injected. Within 4 months after injection of the dose used in this study, the resultant average tissue radiation decreases below the average natural terrestrial and cosmic radiation level. Simultaneous determination of two parameters, (1) cumulative 1-hour pulmonary C14 excretion and (2) the time of occurrence of maximum C14O2specific activity (Tmax), may permit rapid and unequivocal differentiation between folic acid deficiency and vitamin B12 deficiency in the pathogenesis of megaloblastic anemia. Folio acid deficiency results in marked diminution of pulmonary C14 excretion (approximately 0.1 per cent of injection C14 in 1 hour) and marked prolongation of C14O2-specific activity Tmax (approximately 3 hours), while both parameters are normal (approximately 1 per cent and less than 1 hour, respectively) in patients with vitamin B12 deficiency and megaloblastic anemia. Measurement during periods of reticulocyte response to either folio acid or vitamin B12 demonstrate normal C14O2-specific activity Tmax but decreased pulmonary C14 excretion. These observations suggest that prolongation of C14O2-specific activity Tmax is a sensitive index of folic acid deficiency or block and that if Tmax is normal, pulmonary C14 excretion is a sensitive index of the relative partition of the active monocarbon pool between pathways for oxidation and pathways for nucleic acid synthesis. This type of breath analysis seems to provide a quantitative dynamic representation of metabolic function which may be particularly useful in differentiating between the alterations of intermediary metabolism that occur in patients with folic acid-deficient megaloblastic anemia and in patients with vitamin B12-deficient megaloblastic anemia.

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Effect of vitamin B12 and folic acid deficiencies on neutrophil function

Blood ◽

10.1182/blood.v47.5.801.801 ◽

1976 ◽

Vol 47 (5) ◽

pp. 801-805 ◽

Cited By ~ 30

Author(s):

SS Kaplan ◽

RE Basford

Keyword(s):

Folic Acid ◽

Vitamin B12 ◽

Cell Function ◽

Vitamin B12 Deficiency ◽

Folic Acid Deficiency ◽

Specific Therapy ◽

Bacterial Killing ◽

Leukocyte Function ◽

Acid Deficiency ◽

B12 Deficiency

Abstract Morphological and quantitative neutrophil abnormalities are common in the megaloblastic anemias of vitamin B12 and folic acid deficiency. Little is known, however, about the role of these vitamins in normal leukocyte function. Seven patients with megaloblastic bone marrows, four with vitamin B12 deficiency and three with folic acid deficiency, were studied to determine the effect, if any, of these deficiencies on leukocyte function. Phagocytosis of staphylococci, hexose monophosphate shunt activation with phagocytosis, and microbicidal capacity against Staphylococcus aureus were determined prior to the institution of specific therapy. In two instances, these studies were repeated following treatment. There was no impairment of phagocytosis per se, and resting metabolism was not significantly decreased. With phagocytosis, however, metabolic activation was decreased to 35%-36% of control values in the leukocytes of patients with vitamin B12 deficiency but not in the leukocytes of patients with folic acid deficiency. Bacterial killing was slightly decreased in vitamin B12 but not in folic acid deficiency. These abnormalities of function were reversed after specific therapy. These findings suggested a specific role for vitamin B12 in the production of intermediates necessary for normal cell function.

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Vitamin B12 and folic acid associated megaloblastic anemia: Could it mislead the diagnosis of breast cancer?

International Journal for Vitamin and Nutrition Research ◽

10.1024/0300-9831/a000555 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 89 (5-6) ◽

pp. 255-260

Author(s):

Inanc Karakoyun ◽

Can Duman ◽

Fatma Demet Arslan ◽

Anil Baysoy ◽

Banu Isbilen Basok

Keyword(s):

Breast Cancer ◽

Folic Acid ◽

Vitamin B12 ◽

Megaloblastic Anemia ◽

Vitamin B12 Deficiency ◽

Normal Group ◽

Ca 125 ◽

Folic Acid Deficiency ◽

Acid Deficiency ◽

B12 Deficiency

Abstract. CA 15-3 is a tumor-associated antigen and is overexpressed in breast tumors, and may also be high in some other non-cancerous conditions. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of megaloblastic anemia due to vitamin B12 or folic acid deficiency on the levels of tumor markers. Five-year patient data were retrospectively analyzed. The associations between megaloblastic anemia due to vitamin B12 deficiency and CA 15-3, CA 125, CA 19-9, CEA, and AFP levels were analyzed. Furthermore, association between CA 15-3 level and megaloblastic anemia due to folic acid deficiency was evaluated. Median CA 15-3 level was 38.1 U/mL in the group with megaloblastic anemia due to vitamin B12 deficiency(n = 15), 46.7 U/mL in the group with megaloblastic anemia related to folic acid deficiency (n = 3), and 17.8 U/mL in the normal group(n = 1724). CA 15-3 levels were significantly higher among patients with vitamin B12- and folic acid-associated megaloblastic anemia compared to the normal group (p = 0.001 and p = 0.005, respectively). Megaloblastic anemia due to vitamin B12 deficiency was not associated with any significant differences in CA 125, CA 19-9, CEA, or AFP levels compared to the normal group (p = 0.777, p = 0.327, p = 0.577, and p = 0.197, respectively). The numbers of anemic and normal subjects compared in these tests were 12 vs. 1501, 17 vs. 1827, 4 vs. 897, and 8 vs. 1041, respectively. In conclusion, megaloblastic anemia results in ineffective erythropoiesis, and increased levels of CA 15-3 may be associated with this issue. Clinicians should take this into account when evaluating for a pre-diagnosis of breast cancer.

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ESTIMATION OF PREVALENCE OF ANAEMIA, VITAMIN B12, VITAMIN D & FOLIC ACID DEFICIENCY IN FIRST YEAR MBBS STUDENTS OF A TERTIARY MEDICAL COLLEGE IN EASTERN INDIA

10.36106/ijar/8604595 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 41-44

Author(s):

Soumika Biswas ◽

Lekha Biswas

Keyword(s):

Vitamin D ◽

Folic Acid ◽

Vitamin B12 ◽

Nuclear Family ◽

Serum Vitamin ◽

Leafy Vegetables ◽

Folic Acid Deficiency ◽

Medical College ◽

Serum Vitamin D ◽

Vitamin D Levels

Medical students are more vulnerable to develop nutritional anemia ( i.e. haemoglobin, iron , vit B12, folate deciency) & vitamin D deciency due to irregular eating habits & hectic study schedule. Anemia among this age group has signicant health consequences ( e.g. poor cognition, decreased attention span , depressed immunity, repeated infections, increased fatigue etc) . So the present study was planned to ascertain the prevalence of anemia , iron , folic acid ,vit B12 & D deciency among young adult female & male st medical 1 year MBBS students of Medical College Kolkata,( batch 2019-2020) ,West Bengal,India and to suggest intervention strategies. 63 % & 37% female & male students respectively were found to be anaemic & low level of hemoglobin is signicantly associated with type of family as 22% of study subject's belonged to joint family and 78% subjects belong to nuclear family. (p=0.002) & there came out to be no signicant association between socio-economic status and anemia (p=0.213) . Among these subjects with anemia 12 had iron deciency . Serum folic acid levels were normal in the 100 study subjects . 30% students had low serum levels of vitamin B12 , and there was no gender preference (9 suffered from severe deciency, 21 students were in low normal range) . In this study, moderate Vitamin D deciency was found to be present in 42% subjects, mild insufciency in 57% subjects, and adequate serum Vitamin D levels in just 1%. Periodical and routine health check-up and haemoglobin estimation of the students at the time of entrance to Medical Colleges should be done. Iron and folic acid tablets and deworming drugs in therapeutic doses should be provided to the anaemic students. Students should be motivated and educated to take balanced diet, rich in green leafy vegetables and fruits.

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