title: Determining Functional Vitamin B12 Deficiency in the Elderly.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Elevated concentration of serum total homocysteine usually occurs in vitamin B-12 deficiency. This metabolite can be measured and used for screening functional vitamin B-12 deficiency.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We assessed functional vitamin B12 deficiency in Tehranian elderly admitted to elderly research center, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study was performed on 232 elderly admitted to elderly research center in Tehran, Iran in 2012. According to other studies, individuals were classified into two groups: high risk of vitamin B-12 deficiency (< 220 pmol/L) and borderline vitamin B-12 (220-258 pmol/L) accompanied by elevated homocysteine (> 15 micmol/L).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Cut-off of 15.0 pmol/L for homocysteine was identified for persons with normal or elevated concentrations. Among persons aged 65-74 and ≥ 75 years, respectively, 56% and 93% were at high risk of vitamin B-12 deficiency.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The prevalence of B12 deficiency was higher in this study compared to other studies, so more attention and massive efficacious policy should be designed to reduce the deficiency of this vitamin.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Niloofar
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Khodabandehloo
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology and Oncology, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Masoud
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vakili
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Hematology, Oncology and Genetics Research Center, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Zahra
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Hashemian
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Hematology, Oncology and Genetics Research Center, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, IR Iran ; Young Researchers and Elite Club, Yazd Branch, Islamic Azad University, Yazd, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Hadi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zare Zardini
keywords: Concentration; Elderly; Homocysteine; Vitamin B12 Deficiency