Abstract
BackgroundVitamin B12 deficiency is highly prevalent among adult individuals with diabetes yet screening is infrequent in Uganda. There are currently no published data regarding the prevalence of vitamin B12 deficiency and its associated factors among adult individuals with diabetes in sub-Saharan Africa. This study aimed at describing the prevalence and factors associated with vitamin B12 deficiency among this patient population in a resource constrained setting in sub-Saharan Africa.MethodsIn this cross-sectional study, 280 eligible study participants attending the outpatient diabetic clinic at Mulago national referral and teaching hospital in Kampala, Uganda were enrolled. Their socio-demographic, clinical and laboratory data was collected using a pre-tested questionnaire.ResultsThe majority of the study participants were female (68.9 %), with a median age of 50 (IQR: 40–58) years. The mean (SD) serum vitamin B12 levels was 472.0 (16.4) pg/ml. The prevalence of vitamin B12 deficiency was 10.7 %. Hemoglobin level < 12 g/dl (AOR 3.38; 95 % CI 1.38–8.32, p value = 0.008) and glycated hemoglobin ≥ 7 % (AOR 3.29; 1.44–7.51, p value = 0.005) were associated with vitamin B12 deficiency.ConclusionsVitamin B12 deficiency is prevalent in approximately 1 in 10 of adult individuals with diabetes in Uganda. We recommend screening for vitamin B12 deficiency among diabetic patients in Uganda especially those with low hemoglobin concentrations and glycated hemoglobin levels ≥ 7 %.
Highlights
Vitamin B12 deficiency is highly prevalent among adult individuals with diabetes yet screening is infrequent in Uganda
In sub Saharan Africa (SSA), a region with a high frequency of nutritional deficiencies, there is a dearth of data on the burden and predictors of vitamin B12 deficiency in adult individuals with diabetes
Burden of vitamin B12 deficiency To our knowledge, this is the first study to describe the burden of vitamin B12 deficiency and its associated factors in adult individuals with diabetes in sub Saharan Africa, a region with a high frequency of nutritional deficiencies [9, 10]
Summary
Vitamin B12 deficiency is highly prevalent among adult individuals with diabetes yet screening is infrequent in Uganda. There are currently no published data regarding the prevalence of vitamin B12 deficiency and its associated factors among adult individuals with diabetes in sub-Saharan Africa. This study aimed at describing the prevalence and factors associated with vitamin B12 deficiency among this patient population in a resource constrained setting in sub-Saharan Africa. Several studies have unequivocally demonstrated that vitamin B12 deficiency is highly prevalent in adult diabetic patients [2,3,4]. In sub Saharan Africa (SSA), a region with a high frequency of nutritional deficiencies, there is a dearth of data on the burden and predictors of vitamin B12 deficiency in adult individuals with diabetes.
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