Chandrika Azad1, Kana Ram Jat2, Jasbinder Kaur3, Vishal Guglani1, Anshu Palta4, Abhimanyu Tiwari1, Dipika Bansal5. 1. Department of Pediatrics, Government Medical College and Hospital, Chandigarh, India. 2. Department of Pediatrics, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India. 3. Department of Biochemistry, Government Medical College and Hospital, Chandigarh, India. 4. Department of Pathology, Government Medical College and Hospital, Chandigarh, India. 5. Clinical Research Unit, Department of Pharmacy Practice, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Mohali, India.
Abstract
Background: Vitamin B12 deficiency owing to a vegetarian diet is common in India and is associated with neurodevelopmental disorders.Objective: To investigate the prevalence of vitamin B12 deficiency in infants aged 1-12 months and to correlate the results with neurodevelopment. Methods: A cross-sectional study of 200 infants aged 1-12 months presenting to the emergency department or ward and requiring blood sampling or intravenous cannulation was undertaken in a tertiary-care centre of Northern India. Patients' serum vitamin B12 levels were correlated with Denver development screening test II (DDST II). Results: Of 200 infants recruited, 43 (22%) were vitamin B12-deficient (<211 pg/ml). After excluding 16 (8%) infants who were unsuitable for DDST screening, 21/39 (54%) and 22/145 (15%) were DDST-suspect in the vitamin B12-deficient and sufficient groups, respectively (p = 0.0001). There was a statistically significant correlation between B12 deficiency and an abnormal DDST (p < 0.0001). Conclusion: In India, vitamin B12 deficiency is prevalent in infancy and is associated with neurodevelopmental delay.
Background: Vitamin B12 deficiency owing to a vegetarian diet is common in India and is associated with neurodevelopmental disorders.Objective: To investigate the prevalence of vitamin B12 deficiency in infants aged 1-12 months and to correlate the results with neurodevelopment. Methods: A cross-sectional study of 200 infants aged 1-12 months presenting to the emergency department or ward and requiring blood sampling or intravenous cannulation was undertaken in a tertiary-care centre of Northern India. Patients' serum vitamin B12 levels were correlated with Denver development screening test II (DDST II). Results: Of 200 infants recruited, 43 (22%) were vitamin B12-deficient (<211 pg/ml). After excluding 16 (8%) infants who were unsuitable for DDST screening, 21/39 (54%) and 22/145 (15%) were DDST-suspect in the vitamin B12-deficient and sufficient groups, respectively (p = 0.0001). There was a statistically significant correlation between B12 deficiency and an abnormal DDST (p < 0.0001). Conclusion: In India, vitamin B12 deficiency is prevalent in infancy and is associated with neurodevelopmental delay.