In:
Annals of Nutrition and Metabolism, S. Karger AG, Vol. 64, No. 2 ( 2014), p. 101-105
Abstract:
〈 b 〉 〈 i 〉 Background: 〈 /i 〉 〈 /b 〉 Vitamin B 〈 sub 〉 12 〈 /sub 〉 deficiency is highly prevalent worldwide and has been linked to hematologic, neurologic and psychiatric diseases. There are a few studies regarding vitamin B 〈 sub 〉 12 〈 /sub 〉 deficiency in developing countries in general and in Jordan in particular. 〈 b 〉 〈 i 〉 Objectives: 〈 /i 〉 〈 /b 〉 The aims of the present study were to assess the vitamin B 〈 sub 〉 12 〈 /sub 〉 status of Jordanians at national level and to identify population groups at high risk for vitamin B 〈 sub 〉 12 〈 /sub 〉 deficiency. 〈 b 〉 〈 i 〉 Methods: 〈 /i 〉 〈 /b 〉 Vitamin B 〈 sub 〉 12 〈 /sub 〉 status was assessed in a national sample of 5,640 subjects aged 〉 8 years. The study involved interviews, laboratory measurements of vitamin B 〈 sub 〉 12 〈 /sub 〉 and other parameters, and physical measurements. The present report deals exclusively with subjects aged 〉 18 years (n = 2,847). 〈 b 〉 〈 i 〉 Results: 〈 /i 〉 〈 /b 〉 The percentages of subjects with low ( 〈 200 pg/ml, n = 857), borderline (201-350 pg/ml, n = 382) and normal vitamin B 〈 sub 〉 12 〈 /sub 〉 level ( 〉 350 pg/ml, n = 1,608) were 30.1, 13.4 and 56.5%, respectively. Of the 382 subjects who had borderline vitamin B 〈 sub 〉 12 〈 /sub 〉 level, 61 subjects had both increased total homocysteine (tHcy; 〉 13 µmol/l) and low holocobalamin ( 〈 35 pmol/l). Since elevated tHcy also indicates folate deficiency, the overall prevalence of vitamin B 〈 sub 〉 12 〈 /sub 〉 deficiency reached 32.2% (31.9% among males and 32.4% among females) after adding those 61 subjects to the 857 subjects with low vitamin B 〈 sub 〉 12 〈 /sub 〉 level. 〈 b 〉 〈 i 〉 Conclusion: 〈 /i 〉 〈 /b 〉 In conclusion, our study showed that almost one third of Jordanian adults have vitamin B 〈 sub 〉 12 〈 /sub 〉 deficiency with no gender differences. Intake of vitamin B complex and multivitamins seems to protect from vitamin B 〈 sub 〉 12 〈 /sub 〉 deficiency. An in-depth study of the dietary and eating habits of Jordanians may be needed to explain the observed age and regional differences in vitamin B 〈 sub 〉 12 〈 /sub 〉 deficiency in the study population.
Type of Medium:
Online Resource
ISSN:
0250-6807
,
1421-9697
Language:
English
Publisher:
S. Karger AG
Publication Date:
2014
detail.hit.zdb_id:
1481977-6
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