Vitamin B12 deficiency in the aged: a population-based study

Loikas, Saila; Koskinen, Pertti; Irjala, Kerttu; Löppönen, Minna; Isoaho, Raimo; Kivelä, Sirkka‐Liisa; Pelliniemi, Tarja‐Terttu

doi:10.1093/ageing/afl150

Cited by 107 publications

(88 citation statements)

References 22 publications

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“…In this study, older aged individuals had significant lower hemoglobin level and such observations have been reported by previous studies [23]. We also found similar correlation with vitamin B12 like earlier studies [24]. It could be a mixed effect, as vitamin B12 is one of the important components in haemopoiesis.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 92%

Nutritional and Micronutrient Status of Elderly People Living in a Rural Community of Bangladesh

Das¹,

Faruque

Ahmed³

et al. 2015

J Gerontol Geriatric Res

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 92%

Nutritional and Micronutrient Status of Elderly People Living in a Rural Community of Bangladesh

Das¹,

Faruque

Ahmed³

et al. 2015

J Gerontol Geriatric Res

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“…Vitamin B12 is an essential cofactor and coenzyme mediating 2 enzymatic reactions. One involves the conversion of methylmalonyl-coenzyme A (CoA) to succinyl-CoA using adenosyl-Cbl (Ado-Cbl) as a cofactor; the other involves the synthesis of methionine from homocysteine using methyl-Cbl as a cofactor [1] . Impairment in the latter reaction leads to defects in DNA synthesis and a disruption in megaloblastic maturation pattern, as well as the defective productions of choline and choline containing phospholipids that are believed to be of primary importance in explaining the pathophysiological aspects of vitamin B12 and folate deficiencies [13,14] .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Recently, accumulating evidences have shown that vitamin B12 deficiency is a relatively common disease, whose prevalence increases with aging [1,2] . Vitamin B12 deficiency is a worldwide problem, and some researchers regard vitamin B12 as a critical vitamin in old population [3] .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

An investigation of vitamin B12 deficiency in elderly inpatients in neurology department

et al. 2009

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Objective To investigate the status of vitamin B12 deficiency in elderly inpatients in the department of neurology.Methods A total number of 827 patients in the department of neurology of Shanghai Punan hospital, from March 2007 to July 2008, were employed in the present study. They were 60 years or older, and the average age was 77.1±7.5 years old. All the patients were diagnosed with no severe hepatic or renal dysfunction, without any usage of vitamin B12 during the previous 3 months before the detection. The levels of serum vitamin B12, folate and homocysteine (Hcy) were evaluated. The patients with vitamin B12 deficiency were screened. The resulting symptoms, positive signs of neurological examination, and the neuroelectricphysiological results were compared between patients with or without vitamin B12 deficiency. Results Vitamin B12 deficiency was found in 163 patients (19.71% of the total patients), and was more prevalent in female than in male patients, also with increased incidences with aging. Patients with low levels of serum vitamin B12 exhibited higher rate of gastrointestinal diseases, while only 9.82% of the vitamin B12 deficient patients had megaloblastic anemia. Symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency included unsteadily walking in the darkness and hypopallesthesia, and some chronic diseases such as cerebral ischemia, hypertension, Parkinson's disease (Parkinsonism), diabetes mellitus and coronary heart disease. Most of the vitamin B12 deficient patients had neuroelectricphysiological abnormalities. Conclusion Vitamin B12 deficiency is remarkably common in elderly patients in neurology department, with various and atypical clinical manifestations, and the neurological symptoms are more common than megaloblastic anemia symptoms.

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“…Vitamin B 12 levels decreases with age [1], which means that deficiency risk increases in parallel with age [2][3][4]. Therefore, subclinical deficiency is quite more prevalent in the elderly.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A review of the cut-off points for the diagnosis of vitamin B12 deficiency in the general population

Aparicio‐Ugarriza¹,

Palacios²,

Alder

et al. 2015

Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine (CCLM)

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Vitamin B 12 deficit is one of the most common vitamin deficiencies. However, there is no consensus on the cut-off points for vitamin B 12 and its co-markers, such as folate, holotranscobalamin, methylmalonic acid and homocysteine. In order to establish the state of the art about cut-off points used to determine vitamin B 12 deficiency in the last decades, the database MEDLINE was used for searching studies published in adults between December 1992 and May 2014 (69 articles), using search terms like 'vitamin B 12 ', 'cobalamin', 'cut-off', 'deficiency' alone or in combinations. Broad ranges of cut-off points for vitamin B 12 and its biomarkers were identified: vitamin B 12 ranged between 100 pmol/L and 350 pmol/L, holotranscobalamin 20-50 pmol/L, methylmalonic acid 0.210-0.470 μmol/L, homocysteine 10-21.6 μmol/L, serum folate 3.7-15.9 nmol/L and red blood cell 124-397 nmol/L. For the majority of studies, the potential influence of age, analytical methods, gender and fortified food consumption was not taken in account when choosing cut-off values. This could explain the discrepancies between studies on vitamin B 12 and folate deficiency prevalences. We conclude that there is inconsistency in the literature regarding vitamin B 12 cut-offs. It would be necessary to establish different reference cut-offs according to age, considering the analytical methods used.

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Vitamin B12 deficiency in the aged: a population-based study

Abstract: undiagnosed vitamin B12 deficiency is remarkably common in the aged, but no specific risk group for screening can be identified. Thus, biochemical screening of unselected aged population is justified. General practitioners play a key role in diagnosing early vitamin B12 deficiency.

Cited by 107 publications

References 22 publications

Nutritional and Micronutrient Status of Elderly People Living in a Rural Community of Bangladesh

Nutritional and Micronutrient Status of Elderly People Living in a Rural Community of Bangladesh

An investigation of vitamin B12 deficiency in elderly inpatients in neurology department

A review of the cut-off points for the diagnosis of vitamin B12 deficiency in the general population

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