High frequency of maternal vitamin B12 deficiency as an important cause of infantile vitamin B12 deficiency in Sanliurfa province of Turkey.

Background: Vitamin B12 deficiency in infancy may cause failure to thrive, severe neurological disorders and megaloblastic pancytopenia. It is well known that infants born with deficient vitamin B12 storage have increased the risk of vitamin B12 deficiency. Vitamin B12 deficiency is more prevalent in infancy in Sanliurfa province (at the southeast region of Turkey).

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the frequencies of vitamin B12, folic acid and iron deficiencies in pregnants and their babies at birth and to what extend the mothers' deficiency becomes effective on babies' deficiencies.

Methods: The study groups were constituted by 180 pregnant women and their single and term babies. Venous blood samples of pregnants were obtained 1-3 h before delivery and babies' cord bloods were collected at birth. Vitamin B12 and folic acid levels were measured with electro chemiluminiscence method; serum iron and iron binding capacities were measured by colorimetric method and complete blood counts were performed by automatic blood counter.

Results: Mean vitamin B12 levels in maternal and cord blood serum were 130 +/- 61.7 pg/ml and 207 +/- 141 pg/ml; mean folic acid levels were 8.91 +/- 6.46 ng/ml and 17.8 +/- 11.8 ng/ml; mean serum iron levels were 56.9 +/- 37.5 microg/dl and 147 +/- 43.2 microg/dl; and mean transferrin saturations were 11.8 +/- 8% and 65.6 +/- 24%, respectively. There were vitamin B12 deficiency (<160 pg/ml) in 72% of the mothers and 41% of the babies, and severe deficiency (<120 pg/ml) in 48% of the mothers and 23% of the babies. Folic acid deficiency was found in 12% of the mothers, but was not found in the babies. There were iron deficiency in 62% of the mothers and 1% of the babies. There were statistically significant correlation between maternal and cord blood serum vitamin B12 levels (r = 0.395, P < 0.001) and folic acid levels (r = 0.227, P = 0.017), while there were no correlation between maternal and cord blood iron levels and transferrin saturations.

Conclusions: The study results showed that vitamin B12 deficiency is prevalent in pregnants in this region and that 41% of infants have born with deficient vitamin B12 storages. Therefore, prophylactic use of vitamin B12 by pregnant women in Sanliurfa and other poor communities could have considerable benefits to prevent vitamin B12 deficiency and its complications in infants.