An important problem in developing countries: maternal and neonatal vitamin B12 deficiency

作者：Onal Hasan^*; Adal Erdal; Oner Tallha; Onal Zerrin; Aydin Ahmet

来源：Turkish Archives of Pediatrics, 2010, 45(3): 242-245.

DOI：10.4274/tpa.45.242

• Developing countries
• maternal vitamin B12 deficiency
• neonatal vitamin B12 deficiency

Aim: A significant increase has been noted in the number of infants admitted to our hospital due to neurologic findings and diagnosed as vitamin B12 deficiency within the first 6 months of life. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to determine the presence of maternal and neonatal vitamin B12 deficiency in infants born in our hospital.
Material and Method: The study population consisted of 250 women giving birth in our hospital and term newborns completing 48 hours after birth. Serum vitamin B12 levels were measured in mothers and vitamin B12 and homocysteine levels were measured in their newborns. The differential diagnosis between vitamin B12 deficiency and impaired cobalamin synthesis was made in infants with hyperhomocysteinemia. The diagnostic threshold for vitamin B12 deficiency was 300 pg/mL in mothers and 200 pg/mL in newborns.
Results: Vitamin B12 deficiency was found in 81.6% of the mothers and 42% of the infants. The mean homocysteine level in infants with vitamin B12 deficiency was significantly higher compared to those with normal vitamin B12 levels. Impaired cobalamin synthesis was not observed in any cases.
Conclusions: Inadequate consumption of animal proteins during pregnancy due to low socioeconomic status appears to be a significant risk factor for vitamin B12 deficiency both in the mother and the infant. The present study draws attention to the need for parenteral vitamin B12 replacement during pregnancy in developing countries, such as Turkey. (Turk Arch Ped 2010; 45: 242-5)

• 出版日期2010-9