Vitamin B12 concentrations in the elderly: a regional study.
A prospective study of 100 subjects over 70 years of age residing in rest homes or geriatric wards within the Auckland region showed that 23% of the population sampled had a serum vitamin B12 concentration below the reference range. Less than half (48%) of the group with a reduced serum vitamin B12 concentration had other haematological findings on initial screening suggestive of megaloblastosis. Comparative data from hospital and community based laboratories demonstrated that 20% and 29% respectively of samples from individuals aged greater than 70 years referred for serum vitamin B12 analysis had a B12 concentration below the reference range. Reduced serum vitamin B12 abnormalities in elderly individuals should not be ignored and some guidelines for investigations with which to establish a diagnosis are presented.
Barber
K E
KE
Auckland Hospital.
Christie
M L
ML
Thula
R
R
Cutfield
R G
RG
D000368:Aged; D001772:Blood Cell Count; D004911:Erythrocyte Volume; D005260:Female; D006707:Homes for the Aged; D006761:Hospitals; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009520:New Zealand; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014805:Vitamin B 12 / Q000097:blood*; D014806:Vitamin B 12 Deficiency / Q000453:epidemiology
D014805:Vitamin B 12