Perspectives In Medical Research (Apr 2020)
Vitamin B12 concentrations and clinical spectrum of apparently healthy elderly population
Abstract
Introduction : Prevalence of vitamin B12 deficiency is believed to increase with aging. The wide and non-specific spectrum of clinical presentations in patients poses a tough challenge to physicians suspecting vitamin B12 deficiency. Objectives : This study was conducted to collect data on prevalence and clinical features of vitamin B12 deficiency in apparently healthy elderly population visiting hospitals, as the results could help rationalize and direct the appropriate management of vitamin B12 status in elderly. Methods : This was a time bound cross sectional study where apparently healthy individuals >50 years of age were interviewed, examined and investigated in order to study their vitamin B12 concentrations and associated clinical profile. Results: A total of 103 participants were included. The mean vitamin B12 level of the study population was 327.07 pg/ml (S.D= 268.00). In the study, 43.7% (n=45 patients) had low vitamin B12 levels (vitamin B12 deficiency) and 17.5 % (n=18 patients) had subnormal vitamin B12 levels. Among all the symptoms recorded neurological followed by cardiovascular symptoms were more commonly recorded in the patients with vitamin B12 deficiency. Distal dysesthesia was more commonly present in patients with deficient (p 0.044) than in patients with normal vitamin B12 levels. Ataxia and Romberg’s sign positivity were more common in patients with vitamin B12 deficiency when compares to normal vitamin B12 levels (p 0.002 and 0.006, respectively). Conclusion: The study shows that vitamin B12 deficiency is a common problem among elderly and the treating physician should have high index of suspicion when they present with neurological complaints.
