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Vitamin B 12 concentrations in psychiatric patients
Author(s) -
Elsborg L.,
Hansen T.,
Rafaelsen O. J.
Publication year - 1979
Publication title -
acta psychiatrica scandinavica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.849
H-Index - 146
eISSN - 1600-0447
pISSN - 0001-690X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0447.1979.tb06956.x
Subject(s) - vitamin b , apathy , vitamin , medicine , gastroenterology , gastrectomy , appetite , psychiatry , cancer , disease
In an attempt to evaluate the possible relationship between vitamin B 12 deficiency and mental diseases, the blood content of vitamin B 12 was investigated in 835 consecutive psychiatric patients. Low serum vitamin 12 values were found in approximately 20 % of these patients, due to latent pernicious anaemina in one case, post‐gastrectomy in seven cases andsmall intestinal resection inone case. In the remaining 72 cases vitamin B 12 deficiency was probably caused by nutritional insuffficiency. After correction of the dietary defect there was a spontaneous increase in serum vitamin 12 valued are secondary to mental illness leading to apathy and loss of appetite. Most cases will recover without further vitamin B 12 supplements. But some patients may need treatment because of severe mental and physical disabilities.