A racial difference in serum vitamin B12 levels.
Measurements of the serum Vitamin B12 concentrations of 49 black and 49 white healthy adults demonstrate a significantly higher mean serum Vitamin B12 level in blacks when compared to whites (p less than 0.001). The reason for this difference appears to be genetic, although environmental factors may also be involved. It is suggested that clinical laboratories should establish their own separate reference values of serum Vitamin B12 for blacks and whites in order to prevent misinterpretation of test results.
D000328:Adult; D044383:Black People; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012016:Reference Values; D014805:Vitamin B 12 / Q000097:blood*; D044465:White People
D014805:Vitamin B 12