Association of Vitamin B<sub>12</sub> Status with Biochemical Parameters among the Adult Population (30 - 50 Years) of Vallabh Vidyanagar, Anand, Gujarat

Abstract

Vitamin B12 deficiency is known to be very common amongst the vegan population and can cause hyperhomocysteinemia due to various hematologic and neuropsychiatric disorders. Vitamin B12 deficiency is a global epidemic caused by malabsorption and inadequate consumption. Vitamin B12 deficiency has the greatest impact on the blood and nervous system. Elevated Methylmalonic Acid (MMA) and/or total homocysteine levels are sensitive indications of vitamin B12 deficiency and have been linked to clinical problems. Hematological parameters like erythrocyte count, hemoglobin concentration or hematocrit, Mean Cell Volume (MCV), blood values such as plasma B12 and the metabolite MMA are only a few examples. A total of 398 subjects, aged 30-50 years were selected from Vallabh Vidyanagar, Anand, Gujarat. Fourty two percent of the subjects were suffering from vitamin B12 deficiency. The subjects were screened for their vitamin B12 status and several biochemical parameters like homocysteine, iron, hemoglobin, total RBC, PCV, MCV, MCH, MCHC and RDW. Total RBC, MCV, MCH, MCHC levels, and homocysteine concentration of the subjects were found to be significantly (P ? 0.05) associated with the vitamin B12 status of the subjects. A positive and significant (P ? 0.05) relationship was observed between serum vitamin B12 and iron levels (r = 0.127, P ? 0.05) of the subjects. In conclusion, vitamin B12 status was significantly associated with total RBC, MCV, MCH, MCHC levels and homocysteine concentration