Evidence From Web-Based Dietary Search Patterns to the Role of B12 Deficiency in Non-Specific Chronic Pain: A Large-Scale Observational Study.

Eitan Giat,Elad Yom-Tov

doi:10.2196/jmir.8667

Abstract

BackgroundProfound vitamin B12 deficiency is a known cause of disease, but the role of low or intermediate levels of B12 in the development of neuropathy and other neuropsychiatric symptoms, as well as the relationship between eating meat and B12 levels, is unclear.ObjectiveThe objective of our study was to investigate the role of low or intermediate levels of B12 in the development of neuropathy and other neuropsychiatric symptoms.MethodsWe used food-related Internet search patterns from a sample of 8.5 million people based in the US as a proxy for B12 intake and correlated these searches with Internet searches related to possible effects of B12 deficiency.ResultsFood-related search patterns were highly correlated with known consumption and food-related searches (ρ=.69). Awareness of B12 deficiency was associated with a higher consumption of B12-rich foods and with queries for B12 supplements. Searches for terms related to neurological disorders were correlated with searches for B12-poor foods, in contrast with control terms. Popular medicines, those having fewer indications, and those which are predominantly used to treat pain, were more strongly correlated with the ability to predict neuropathic pain queries using the B12 contents of food.ConclusionsOur findings show that Internet search patterns are a useful way of investigating health questions in large populations, and suggest that low B12 intake may be associated with a broader spectrum of neurological disorders than previously thought.

Highlights

Vitamin B12 has long been known to be a cause of megaloblastic anemia and neurological disorders [1]
Other neurological abnormalities may be caused by B12 deficiency, such as peripheral neuropathy, memory loss, irritability, and dementia [2,3], but the association of these symptoms with serum B12 levels and B12 intake is unclear
The Framingham Offspring study [4] found that B12 intake from meat did not change B12 levels, but this study regarded all types of meat as one entity

Summary

Introduction

Vitamin B12 has long been known to be a cause of megaloblastic anemia and neurological disorders [1]. Very low levels of B12 cause subacute combined degeneration of the dorsal and lateral spinal columns, manifested by paresthesia, ataxia, impaired sense of vibration and proprioception, progressive weakness, spasticity, and paraplegia. These symptoms may be irreversible, depending on duration. Other neurological abnormalities may be caused by B12 deficiency, such as peripheral neuropathy, memory loss, irritability, and dementia [2,3], but the association of these symptoms with serum B12 levels and B12 intake is unclear. Profound vitamin B12 deficiency is a known cause of disease, but the role of low or intermediate levels of B12 in the development of neuropathy and other neuropsychiatric symptoms, as well as the relationship between eating meat and B12 levels, is unclear

Methods

Results

Conclusion