Vitamin B12 deficiency. Prevalence among South Asians at a Toronto clinic.
OBJECTIVE
To estimate the prevalence of vitamin B12 deficiency in adult South Asian patients.


METHODS
Retrospective chart review.


METHODS
Family practice clinic in Toronto, Ont.


METHODS
Records of 988 South Asian patients.


METHODS
Of 1000 randomly selected records, we found 988 charts. From charts with at least one documented B12 level, we extracted data on age, mean corpuscular volume (MCV), hemoglobin and ferritin levels, and diet (if available). Descriptive and analytic statistics were calculated.


METHODS
Levels of serum B12 and factors associated with low levels of B12.


RESULTS
B12 results were documented in 49% of charts; 46% of results showed deficiency. Patients older than 65 and vegetarians were more likely to be B12 deficient. Low serum B12 levels were positively correlated with low hemoglobin and ferritin levels and poorly correlated with low MCV levels.


CONCLUSIONS
Many more South Asian patients than patients in the general population have vitamin B12 deficiency. A vegetarian diet seems a strong risk factor. A single low result, however, might not indicate true B12 deficiency.
Gupta
Anil K
AK
Rexdale Community Health Centre, Ontario. patriciabaltazar@hotmail.com
Damji
Alkarim
A
Uppaluri
Aparna
A
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001213:Asian / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014676:Diet, Vegetarian / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000208:ethnology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009864:Ontario / Q000453:epidemiology; D010154:Pakistan / Q000208:ethnology; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D014806:Vitamin B 12 Deficiency / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000209:etiology