Prevalence of vitamin B12 depletion and deficiency in Liechtenstein

Abstract

Objective: Data about vitamin B 12 (B 12 ) deficiency in the general population are scarce. The present study was performed to determine the prevalence of B 12 deficiency in the general population of the Principality of Liechtenstein, as well as to identify sub-populations potentially at high risk. Design: Retrospective study. Setting: Ambulatory setting, population of the Principality of Liechtenstein. Subjects: Seven thousand four hundred and twenty-four patients seeking medical attention whose serum samples were referred for routine work-up in an ambulatory setting were consecutively enrolled. Serum total B 12 was determined in all patients in this cohort. In addition, for a subgroup of 1328 patients, serum holotranscobalamin was also measured. Prevalence of B 12 deficiency was calculated. Further, multivariate logistical regression models were applied to identify covariates independently associated with B 12 deficiency and depletion. Results: Nearly 8 % of the general population was suffering from either B 12 depletion or deficiency. The ratio between B 12 depletion and deficiency was 2:1 for all age ranges. Pathological changes were detected predominantly in older people. Female gender was a significant predictor of B 12 depletion. In the cohort, nearly 40 % exhibited either depletion or deficiency of B 12 . Conclusions: B 12 depletion and deficiency are common in Liechtenstein, a Central European country. The measurement of biochemical markers represents a costefficient and valid assessment of the B 12 state. When a deficiency of B 12 is diagnosed at an early stage, many cases can be treated or prevented, with beneficial effects on individual outcomes and subsequent potential reductions in health-care costs.

Prevalence and Time Trends of Low Serum B12 Levels and Inadequate B12 Dietary Intake in Lebanese Adults amidst the Food Insecurity Situation: Findings from a Nationally Representative Cross-Sectional Study

“…Furthermore, the most participants with low serum levels of B12 in the current study were females (68.6%), which was expected given the lower dietary B12 intake of females compared to males. The results from some studies aligned with ours [52][53][54], while others found a higher prevalence of low serum levels of B12 in males [73]. In short, females in Lebanon were found to be susceptible to low dietary intake and low serum levels of B12 in our population, presumably due to altered dietary patterns.…”

“…When compared to other studies, regionally, the prevalence of low levels appeared to be higher in Jordan (30.1%) [ 51 ] and Iran (27.1%) [ 34 ] but lower in Saudi Arabia (7.5%) [ 52 ] than our study finding (23%). Internationally, all studies except India (34%) [ 46 ] reported a lower prevalence of low serum levels of B12, including Bangladesh (~<15%) [ 53 ], Liechtenstein (13.4%) [ 54 ], Panama (11.8%) [ 55 ], Spain (10.9%) [ 43 ], Costa Rica (11.2%) [ 56 ], the UK (6%) [ 42 ], Ireland (6%) [ 57 ], Canada (~<6%) [ 58 ], Ecuador (5.46%) [ 39 ], the US (~3–4% in 1999–2002 [ 41 ] and ~<7% in 2003–2006 [ 59 ]), France (3.3%) [ 60 ], Australia (2.3%) [ 61 ], and Korea (~<2%) [ 62 ]. As for our alarming prevalence of low to intermediate levels of B12 combined together (61.1%), it unexpectedly appeared to be the highest of all published studies that assessed the prevalence of low serum levels of B12 to our knowledge, including Jordan (43.5%) regionally [ 52 ]; and Costa Rica (42.4%) [ 56 ], Panama (37.5%) [ 55 ], Canada (~<28%) [ 58 ], the US (17–20%) [ 41 ], Australia (14.7%) [ 61 ], Brazil (6.4%) [ 63 ], and Finland (4.7%) [ 64 ] internationally.…”

Vitamin B12 and folate levels in healthy Swiss senior citizens: a prospective study evaluating reference intervals and decision limits

“…An overwhelming proportion of the literature implies that, with progressing age, vitamin B12 and folate levels in senior citizens fall short of currently validated RIs [ 44 – 48 ], a finding that is challenged by our data, obtained from participants apparently in good health and with a relatively uniracial background [ 49 , 50 ]. Most other studies, on metaanalysis, reveal cohorts comprised of study subjects seeking treatment or already ill or even subject to multimorbidity [ 14 , 47 , 51 , 52 ].…”

Vitamin B12 deficiency and neuropsychiatric symptoms in Lebanon: A cross-sectional study of vegans, vegetarians, and omnivores

“…This could also explain why vitamin B 12 deficiency among our sample of Lebanese adults exceeded the prevalence of cobalamin deficiency in many countries around the world. In our study, vitamin B12 deficiency among the Lebanese adults was as high as 43.1% compared to only 4.8% in France [ 30 ], 8% in Liechtenstein [ 31 ], 14% in Australia [ 32 ] and 14.9% in South India [ 33 ].…”