Nutritional vitamin B12 deficiency in hospitalized young children.
The authors sought to determine prevalence, social, economic, and dietary patterns of young children (n = 20) identified as having vitamin B12 deficiency anemia after admission to their hospital in the last 3 years. The diagnosis of vitamin B12 deficiency was based on symptoms and clinical findings, findings on peripheral blood films and bone marrow aspirates, and serum levels of vitamin B12. The children had been exclusively breast-fed without any animal food supplementation. Serum vitamin B12 levels were also measured in the sera of mothers and found to be low. The authors concluded that vitamin B12 deficiency might be an important health problem among children of mothers who do not consume animal foods adequately.
Cetinkaya
Feyzullah
F
Sisli Etfal Education and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey. feyzulkaya@mynet.com
Yildirmak
Yildiz
Y
Kutluk
Gunsel
G
Erdem
Ela
E
D001942:Breast Feeding / Q000009:adverse effects; D002675:Child, Preschool; D014676:Diet, Vegetarian / Q000009:adverse effects; D006130:Growth Disorders / Q000209:etiology*; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014806:Vitamin B 12 Deficiency / Q000150:complications*