Prevalence of Vitamin B12 Deficiency among Exclusively Breast Fed Term Infants in South India

Abstract

Objective Vitamin B12 is not synthesized in the body and its only dietary sources are non-vegetarian. The breast milk of mothers in resource poor countries who are on predominantly vegetarian diets is deficient in vitamin B12. Hence exclusive breast feeding (EBF) may result in B12 deficiency in the infant, which can affect the neurodevelopmental outcome. Our aim was to study the serum vitamin B12 levels among EBF infants and identify the risk factors for B12 deficiency. Method This cross-sectional study was done among EBF, term, otherwise healthy infants, 1–6 month of age in the well-baby clinic .The sociodemographic data of mother and the infants’ anthropometric measurements were noted and blood samples were sent for complete blood count and serum vitamin B12 levels. The data were analysed using SPSS software version 16. Results We enrolled 149 EBF infants, aged 1–6 months and the mean age was 3.1 (±1.03) months. The mean serum vitamin B12 level was 199.91 (±112.523) pg/ml. Low serum vitamin B12 levels (<200 pg/ml) was seen in 95 (63.7%) infants. On multivariate analysis, there were no other significant risk factors for B12 deficiency in the infants. Conclusion The prevalence of vitamin B12 deficiency among EBF infants is 63.7%. Because of its importance in neurological development during infancy, there is an urgent need to address this issue while promoting exclusive breast feeding.

Prevalence of Vitamin B12 Deficiency among Exclusively Breast Fed term infants

“…In our study, we recorded infants with Low serum vitamin B12 levels (<200 pg/ml) in 66 (55%). These findings are in agreement with a study by Apurva Kadiyala and colleagues 12 who evaluated serum vitamin B12 levels among EBF infants and recorded low serum vitamin B12 levels (<200 pg/ml) was seen in 95 (63.7%) infants. Our results with are in agreement with Apurva Kadiyala and others.…”

Risk Assessment of Micronutrients Deficiency in Vegetarian or Vegan Children: Not So Obvious

“…A vegetarian diet in the mother is the main cause (64% of cases) of vitamin B12 deficiency in breastfed infants [66]. In India, the country with the highest prevalence of vegetarians [67], 63.7% of 149 exclusively breastfed infants (3.1 ± 1 mo) had low levels of serum vitamin B12 (<200 pg/mL), but only 21% of them had a vegetarian mother [68]. Symptoms of cobalamin deficiency in breastfed infants are usually manifested between 4 to 8 months of age [56,69,70].…”

“…a vegetarian mother [68]. Symptoms of cobalamin deficiency in breastfed infants are usually manifested between 4 to 8 months of age [56,69,70].…”

Genel Pediatri Polikliniği Vakalarında B12 Vitamini Eksikliği

“…Anlamlılık p<0,05 olarak kabul edildi. Serum B12 vitamini eksikliği prevalansı yenidoğan bebeklerde yapılan çalışmalarda genellikle yüksek bulunmuştur (9,10,13,15,18). Bu çalışmalarda eksikliğin en önemli nedeni olarak B12 vitamini eksikliği olan annelerden anne sütü ile beslenme gösterilmektedir (9,13,21,22).…”