Association of developmental milestones with vitamin B12 and folate status among hospitalized severe acute malnutrition children at a tertiary care center in North India

Abstract

Introduction: Severe acute malnutrition (SAM) is a severe form of malnutrition affecting nearly 20 million children worldwide. Besides increasing the risk of death and disease, malnutrition also leads to growth retardation and impaired psychosocial and cognitive development. Vitamin B12 and folate are water-soluble essential micronutrients critical in average growth and development, particularly during infancy and childhood. A deficiency of folate and vitamin B12 can result in anemia, poor growth, and increased infections, and vitamin B12 deficiency can cause irreversible neurologic damage to the developing brain. We conducted this study to assess serum folate and vitamin B12 levels in children with SAM at admission and determine its relation with their developmental milestones. Materials and Methods: One hundred admitted SAM children between ages 6 and 59 months were taken to assess serum folate and vitamin B12 levels status in a tertiary care hospital and determine its relation with their developmental milestones. Results: The majority of the participants were in the age group 6–12 months (64%), rural (95%), the lower class of socioeconomic status (76%), and incomplete immunization (63%). Serum vitamin B12 and folate levels were found to be significantly associated with different domains of childhood development. Conclusion: This analysis revealed a high prevalence of vitamin B12 deficiency among malnourished children aged 6–59 months. We found that serum vitamin B12 level and folic acid were significantly associated with developmental delay in all domains (gross motor, fine motor, language, and social) of milestones.

Keywords

• developmental milestones
• folic acid
• severe acute malnutrition
• vitamin b12