Research Article


DOI :10.26650/jchild.2021.956537   IUP :10.26650/jchild.2021.956537    Full Text (PDF)

Vitamin B12 Deficiency in Ambulatory Pediatric Outpatient Cases

Muhammet Ali Varkal

Objective: This study aims to determine the frequency of vitamin B12 deficiency in children and how it varies according to age groups. Vitamin B12 is an essential vitamin that has an important role in nucleic acid synthesis, erythrocyte maturation, and nervous system development. Vitamin B12 deficiency commonly causes anemia. However, severe deficiency in children can cause permanent neurological damage. Therefore, early detection and treatment of vitamin B12 deficiency make it possible to prevent its permanent effects. In addition, determining the age groups at risk allows early diagnosis. Material and Method: The study included children aged 0-18 years admitted to anambulatory pediatric outpatient clinic. Serum vitamin B12 values of children were examined. Vitamin B12 levels below 200 pg/mL were considered a deficiency and between 200-300 pg/mL a marginal level. Descriptive methods, Chi-square, and Independent Samples T-Test were used in the statistical analysis of the data. Results: The study evaluated data from 3115 children. 49.6% of the participants were girls, and 50.4% were boys. The mean age was 8.2±5.4 years. The mean serum vitamin B12 level was 436 ± 174 pg/mL. This mean was 442±172 pg/mL in girls and 431±177 pg/mL in boys. Mean vitamin B12 levels did not differ by gender. The frequency of serum vitamin B12 deficiency was 4.1%. However, it was significantly higher in boys than in girls (5.2%-3.0%). The frequency of marginal level was 18.4%. The frequency of vitamin B12 deficiency differed according to age groups. Serum vitamin B12 deficiency was seen at the highest rate between 0-6 months, with 11%. This rate was 7.1% in the 6-24-month group. Conclusion: This study showed the frequency of serum vitamin B12 deficiency in children admitted to anambulatory pediatric outpatient clinic and in certain age groups. In addition, it was seen that vitamin B12 deficiency was common, especially in infancy and adolescence. However, multicenter prospective studies are needed to determine the prevalence and causes of deficiency in a wide area.

DOI :10.26650/jchild.2021.956537   IUP :10.26650/jchild.2021.956537    Full Text (PDF)

Genel Pediatri Polikliniği Vakalarında B12 Vitamini Eksikliği

Muhammet Ali Varkal

Amaç: Bu çalışma ile genel pediatri polikliniğine başvuran çocuklarda B12 vitamini eksikliğinin sıklığını ve yaş gruplarına göre nasıl değiştiğini belirlemek amaçlanmıştır. B12 vitamini eksikliğinde en sık anemi görülürken çocuklarda ağır eksiklikler kalıcı nörolojik hasara neden olabilir. Bu nedenle B12 vitamini eksikliğinin erken saptanması ve tedavisi kalıcı etkilerini önlemek için önemlidir. Çocuklarda riskli yaş gruplarının belirlenmesi erken tanıda yararlı olacaktır. Gereç ve Yöntem: Çalışmaya, genel pediatri polikliniğinde değerlendirilen ve serum B12 vitamini düzeyi ölçülen 0-18 yaş arasındaki çocuklar dahil edildi. Çocukların serum B12 vitamini değerleri hastane otomasyonundan elde edildi ve <200 pg/mL olması eksiklik, 200-300 pg/mL arasında olması ise sınırda değer olarak kabul edildi. Verilerin istatistiksel analizinde tanımlayıcı yöntemler, Ki-kare ve Bağımsız Örnekler t-Testi kullanıldı. Bulgular: 3115 çocuğun verisi değerlendirildi. Çocukların %49,6’sı kız, %50,4’ü erkekti. Yaş ortalaması 8,2±5,4 yıl idi. Ortalama serum B12 vitamini düzeyi 436±174 pg/mL saptanırken, kızlarda bu ortalama 442±172 pg/mL, erkeklerde ise 431±177 pg/mL idi. Serum B12 vitamini eksikliği sıklığı %4,1 saptandı. Ancak, erkek çocuklarda B12 vitamini eksikliği anlamlı olarak daha sıktı (%5,2-%3,0). Sınırda değere sahip olanların oranı %18,4’tü. Yaş gruplarına göre vitamin B12 eksikliği sıklığı farklılık gösteriyordu. Serum vitamin B12 eksikliği %11 ile en yüksek oranda 0-6 ay arasında görüldü. Bunu %7,1 ile 6-24 ay grubu takip etmekteydi. Sonuç: Bu çalışma ile polikliniğe başvuran çocuklarda serum B12 vitamini eksikliğinin oranı gösterilmiştir. Eksikliğin özellikle süt çocukluğu ve adölesan döneminde daha sıkolduğu görülmektedir. Ancak, eksiklik oranının ve nedenlerinin daha geniş saha çalışmasıyla belirlenmesi için çok merkezli çalışmalara ihtiyaç vardır


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APA

Varkal, M.A. (2022). Vitamin B12 Deficiency in Ambulatory Pediatric Outpatient Cases. Journal of Child, 22(1), 15-20. https://doi.org/10.26650/jchild.2021.956537


AMA

Varkal M A. Vitamin B12 Deficiency in Ambulatory Pediatric Outpatient Cases. Journal of Child. 2022;22(1):15-20. https://doi.org/10.26650/jchild.2021.956537


ABNT

Varkal, M.A. Vitamin B12 Deficiency in Ambulatory Pediatric Outpatient Cases. Journal of Child, [Publisher Location], v. 22, n. 1, p. 15-20, 2022.


Chicago: Author-Date Style

Varkal, Muhammet Ali,. 2022. “Vitamin B12 Deficiency in Ambulatory Pediatric Outpatient Cases.” Journal of Child 22, no. 1: 15-20. https://doi.org/10.26650/jchild.2021.956537


Chicago: Humanities Style

Varkal, Muhammet Ali,. Vitamin B12 Deficiency in Ambulatory Pediatric Outpatient Cases.” Journal of Child 22, no. 1 (Mar. 2024): 15-20. https://doi.org/10.26650/jchild.2021.956537


Harvard: Australian Style

Varkal, MA 2022, 'Vitamin B12 Deficiency in Ambulatory Pediatric Outpatient Cases', Journal of Child, vol. 22, no. 1, pp. 15-20, viewed 29 Mar. 2024, https://doi.org/10.26650/jchild.2021.956537


Harvard: Author-Date Style

Varkal, M.A. (2022) ‘Vitamin B12 Deficiency in Ambulatory Pediatric Outpatient Cases’, Journal of Child, 22(1), pp. 15-20. https://doi.org/10.26650/jchild.2021.956537 (29 Mar. 2024).


MLA

Varkal, Muhammet Ali,. Vitamin B12 Deficiency in Ambulatory Pediatric Outpatient Cases.” Journal of Child, vol. 22, no. 1, 2022, pp. 15-20. [Database Container], https://doi.org/10.26650/jchild.2021.956537


Vancouver

Varkal MA. Vitamin B12 Deficiency in Ambulatory Pediatric Outpatient Cases. Journal of Child [Internet]. 29 Mar. 2024 [cited 29 Mar. 2024];22(1):15-20. Available from: https://doi.org/10.26650/jchild.2021.956537 doi: 10.26650/jchild.2021.956537


ISNAD

Varkal, MuhammetAli. Vitamin B12 Deficiency in Ambulatory Pediatric Outpatient Cases”. Journal of Child 22/1 (Mar. 2024): 15-20. https://doi.org/10.26650/jchild.2021.956537



TIMELINE


Submitted23.06.2021
Accepted13.07.2021
Published Online21.09.2021

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