vitamin-b-12 and Severe-Acute-Malnutrition

Severe acute malnutrition (SAM) is treated with ready-to-use therapeutic foods (RUTF) containing a vitamin-mineral premix. Yet little is known about micronutrient status in children with SAM before and after treatment. We aimed to investigate vitamin B12 status in children with uncomplicated SAM, aged 6-59 months in Burkina Faso, before and after treatment with a standard or a reduced dose of RUTF. Blood samples were collected at admission and discharge. Serum B12 was determined with microbiological assay and serum methylmalonic acid (MMA) and total homocysteine (tHcy) were analyzed with gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. B12 status was classified using the combined indicator (3cB12). Among 374 children, the median [interquartile range] age was 11.0 [7.7-16.9] months, and 85.8% were breastfed. Marked or severe B12 deficiency, as judged by 3cB12, decreased from 32% to 9% between admission and discharge (

Topics: Burkina Faso; Child; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; Humans; Outpatients; Severe Acute Malnutrition; Vitamin B 12; Vitamins

To define the vitamin B12 levels and other micronutrients status in severe acute malnutrition (SAM) children.. This was a prospective hospital based cross-sectional study.. Children with severe acute malnutrition as per WHO criteria.. (i) Pernicious anemia (ii) Autoimmune gastritis (iii) SAM children on exclusive vitamin B12 supplementation. All enrolled children underwent a detailed clinical history, general physical examination with more emphasis on clinical features of vitamin B12 and other micronutrients deficiencies. Three ml of venous blood was collected to estimate vitamin B12 and other micronutrients. Primary outcome was percentage of deficiency of serum vitamin B12, zinc, copper, selenium, manganese, molybdenum and cobalt in SAM children.. Fifty children were included in the study. The mean age of children was 15.60±12.90 mo with male to female ratio 0.85:1. The common clinical presentation in order of frequency were upper respiratory infection (URI) symptoms 35 (70%), hepatomegaly 24 (48%), Hyperpigmentation 17 (34%), angular cheilitis 14 (28%), tremors 11 (22%), edema 07 (14%), and hypotonia 05 (10%). Anemia was found in 44 (88%) children. Prevalence of vitamin B12 deficiency was 34%. Other micronutrient deficiencies observed were cobalt 24 (100%), copper 05 (12%), zinc 04 (9.5%), and molybdenum 03 (12.5%). No statistical significance was found between clinical symptoms and levels of vitamin B12 with different age and sex.. Prevalence of low vitamin B12 and cobalt were more common than other micronutrients.

Topics: Child; Cobalt; Copper; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Humans; Male; Malnutrition; Manganese; Micronutrients; Molybdenum; Prevalence; Prospective Studies; Selenium; Severe Acute Malnutrition; Vitamin B 12; Zinc

To assess iron, folate and vitamin B12 status in hospitalized children aged between 6 mo to 5 y with severe acute malnutrition and its correlation with their clinico-epidemiological profile.. The study was conducted on 50 children with severe acute malnutrition. Anthropometric measurements were taken to determine their nutritional status. The demographic profile and relevant information of individual patient were collected by using structured proforma and an informed consent was taken for enrolling the children into the study. Serum ferritin, folate and vitamin B12 was estimated using electrochemiluminiscence (ECL) method.. Seventy eight percent patients had weight/height (WT/HT) Z score < -3 standard deviation (3SD), 72 % with mid upper arm circumference (MUAC) <11.5 cm and 22 % of them had edematous malnutrition. Anemia was prevalent in 47(94 %) and there was significant correlation between WT/HT < -3SD and vitamin B 12 deficiency (p = 0.015). Significantly higher number of these patients had vitamin B12 deficiency as compared to folate and iron deficiency (p = 0.0006 each).. Vitamin B12 deficiency was more common than iron and folate deficiencies in these patients with severe acute malnutrition.

Topics: Anemia; Anthropometry; Child, Preschool; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Folic Acid; Folic Acid Deficiency; Humans; India; Infant; Iron; Iron Deficiencies; Male; Nutritional Status; Prevalence; Severe Acute Malnutrition; Statistics as Topic; Vitamin B 12; Vitamin B 12 Deficiency