Vitamin B12 deficiency in African American and white octogenarians and centenarians in Georgia.
OBJECTIVE
Test the hypotheses that vitamin B12 deficiency would be prevalent in octogenarians and centenarians and associated with age, gender, race/ethnicity, living arrangements (community or skilled nursing facility), animal food intake, B-vitamin supplement use, atrophic gastritis, folate status, and hematological indicators.


METHODS
Population-based multi-ethnic sample of adults aged 80 to 89 and 98 and above.


METHODS
Northern Georgia in the United States.


METHODS
Men and women aged 80 to 89 (octogenarians, n = 80) and 98 and older (centenarians, n = 231).


METHODS
Wilcoxon signed-rank tests, Fisher's exact tests, and logistic regression analysis was used to examine the associations of vitamin B12 status with the variables of interest.


RESULTS
After excluding participants receiving vitamin B12 injections (n = 17), the prevalence of vitamin B12 deficiency was higher in centenarians than in octogenarians (35.3% vs. 22.8%, p < 0.05, defined as plasma vitamin B12 < 258 pmol/L and serum methylmalonic acid > 271 nmol/L and methylmalonic acid > serum 2-methylcitrate) and in both age groups was correlated with significantly higher homocysteine (p < 0.05) and lower plasma and red cell folate (p < 0.01), but was not related to hemoglobin, anemia, mean cell volume, or macrocytosis. In logistic regression analysis, the probability of being vitamin B12-deficient was significantly increased by being a centenarian vs. octogenarian (p < 0.03), by being white vs. African American (p < 0.02), by increasing severity of atrophic gastritis (p < 0.001), and by not taking oral B-vitamin supplements (p < 0.01), but was not related to gender, living arrangements, or animal food intake.


CONCLUSIONS
Centenarians and octogenarians are at high risk for vitamin B12 deficiency for many of the same reasons identified in other older adult populations. Given the numerous potential adverse consequences of poor vitamin B12 status, efforts are needed to ensure vitamin B12 adequacy in these older adults.
Johnson
M A
MA
The University of Georgia, Department of Foods and Nutrition, 280 Dawson Hall, Athens, GA 30602, USA. DrMaryAnnJohnson@gmail.com
Hausman
D B
DB
Davey
A
A
Poon
L W
LW
Allen
R H
RH
Stabler
S P
SP
D001741:Black or African American; D000367:Age Factors; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000097:blood*; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000737:chemistry; D005260:Female; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D005845:Georgia / Q000453:epidemiology; D006710:Homocysteine / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012737:Sex Factors; D014805:Vitamin B 12 / Q000097:blood*; D014806:Vitamin B 12 Deficiency / Q000097:blood / Q000208:ethnology*; D044465:White People
D006710:Homocysteine; D005492:Folic Acid; D014805:Vitamin B 12