Nutritional vitamin B-12 deficiency in hospitalized young children

Cetinkaya F., Yidirmak Y., Kutluk G., Erdem E.

PEDIATRIC HEMATOLOGY AND ONCOLOGY, vol.24, no.1, pp.15-21, 2007 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 24 Issue: 1
  • Publication Date: 2007
  • Doi Number: 10.1080/08880010601001370
  • Journal Name: PEDIATRIC HEMATOLOGY AND ONCOLOGY
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus
  • Page Numbers: pp.15-21
  • Marmara University Affiliated: No

Abstract

The authors sought to determine prevalence, social, economic, and dietary patterns of young children (n = 20) identified as having vitamin B-12 deficiency anemia after admission to their hospital in the last 3 years. The diagnosis of vitamin B-12 deficiency was based on symptoms and clinical findings, findings on peripheral blood films and bone marrow aspirates, and serum levels of vitamin B-12. The children had been exclusively breast-fed without any animal food supplementation. Serum vitamin B-12 levels were also measured in the sera of mothers and found to be low. The authors concluded that vitamin B-12 deficiency might be an important health problem among children of mothers who do not consume animal foods adequately.