Serum Vitamin B12 and Folic Acid (P.G.A.) Levels in Hypoproteinaemia and Marasmus in Indian Children

Serum Vitamin‐B12‐Binding Proteins in Kwashiorkor*

“…The fall in serum vitamin BlZ which followed clinical improvement (Fig. 3) has also been noted by other workers (Adams et al, 1967;Pereira and Baker, 1966;Satoskar et at., 1962) and may be ascribed to recovery of hepatic function and improved liver storage of the vitamin. In acute hepatitis and cirrhosis the betabinder is decreased as it is in kwashiorkor (Retief, Vandenplas and Visser, 1969).…”

“…Hift (1966) found high vitamin BIZ levels amongst his Bantu and Indian patients suffering &om malnutrition. It has been suggested that the high vitamin B,, levels of kwashiorkor, also noted in this study, are related to liver damage (Satoskar et al, 1962). The fall in serum vitamin BlZ which followed clinical improvement (Fig.…”

“…Normal to high serum vitamin B,, values in children with kwashiorkor have been observed by Satoskar, Kulkarni, Mehta, Sanzgiri and Bamji (1962), Pereira and Baker (1966) and Adams, Scragg, Naidoo, Liljestrand and Cockram (1967). Hift (1966) found high vitamin BIZ levels amongst his Bantu and Indian patients suffering &om malnutrition.…”

Anaemias of Marasmus and Kwashiorkor in Kenya

“…Their high serum B12 levels and low liver values are probably associated with liver damage. During treatment the serum B12 returned to normal (Satoskar et al, 1962).…”

Vitamin B₁₂ and Vegetarianism in India

“…Nutritional megaloblastic anaemia seen in India is mostly due to folate deficiency [3, 5, 6] and neurological complications are conspicuously rare, even though the serum vitamin BI2 levels in many individuals may be as low as in pernicious anaemia. Further, serum levels of vitamin B12 may be even high in patients with frank protein caloric deficiency [19] and in proteindeficient rats [12].…”