title: Holotranscobalamin Levels in Children with Helicobacter pylori Infection.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The purpose of this study was to evaluate the association between vitamin B12 levels and Helicobacter Pylori infection and to examine the clinical usefulness of holotranscobalamin (holoTC) measurement in children.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty patients between 6 and 15 years of age, who were diagnosed as H. pylori infected by C(14) urea breath test, and 26 controls were enrolled in the study. Tests for complete blood count, serum vitamin B12 and folate, plasma total homocysteine, and holoTC levels were performed in each patient in the study and control groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean plasma holoTC concentrations were significantly lower in children with H. pylori infection before treatment (median 23.7 pmol/L (12.9-37.1 pmol/L)) versus after treatment (median 38.2 pmol/L (21.2-61.4 pmol/L)) and controls (median 36.1 pmol/L (12.6-58.7 pmol/L)).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The findings of our study suggest that H. pylori infection has a reversible negative effect on vitamin B12 status reflected in a decreased level of plasma holoTC that normalizes upon treatment of the infection, while no change is observed in total plasma vitamin B12 .
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Gulhane Military Medical Academy and Medical Faculty, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Oguz
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Afyoncu
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Hematology, Gulhane Military Medical Academy and Medical Faculty, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Orhan
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Gursel
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Hematology, Gulhane Military Medical Academy and Medical Faculty, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Avni
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Atay
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Hematology, Gulhane Military Medical Academy and Medical Faculty, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Emin
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kurekci
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Gulhane Military Medical Academy and Medical Faculty, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Necati
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Balamtekin
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Gulhane Military Medical Academy and Medical Faculty, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Adnan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hasimi
authors.affiliation: Department of Nuclear Medicine, Gulhane Military Medical Academy and Medical Faculty, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Mehmet A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Ozguven
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Gulhane Military Medical Academy and Medical Faculty, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Okan
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Ozcan
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000097:blood; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000097:blood* / Q000382:microbiology; D016480:Helicobacter pylori / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D014805:Vitamin B 12 / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D005492:Folic Acid; D014805:Vitamin B 12
keywords: Helicobacter pylori; children; holotranscobalamin; vitamin B12