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Giardiasis: haematological status and the absorption of vitamin B 12 and folic acid
Author(s) -
Hjelt Karsten,
Pærregaard Anders,
Krasilnikoff Peter A
Publication year - 1992
Publication title -
acta pædiatrica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.772
H-Index - 115
eISSN - 1651-2227
pISSN - 0803-5253
DOI - 10.1111/j.1651-2227.1992.tb12074.x
Subject(s) - medicine , malabsorption , gastroenterology , transferrin saturation , vitamin b12 , folic acid , transferrin , vitamin , iron deficiency , anemia
The haematological status, as well as the fractional absorptions of folic acid (FAFol) and vitamin B 12 (FAB 12 ) were studied in 29 children aged 0.7–13.5 years (mean 3.3 years) with chronic diarrhoea due to giardiasis. Small intestinal biopsies revealed mucosal damage in 20 children; the biopsies of the remaining nine children were normal. At the initial investigation the FAFol and FAB 12 values were below normal in approximately one‐sixth and one‐third of patients, respectively. Bacterial overgrowth of the small intestinal tract did not seem to play a role in FAB 12 malabsorption. About one‐fifth of patients had mild anaemia. None of the patients showed FAB 12 insufficiency and only one patient suffered from folate depletion. At follow‐up, FAFol, FAB 12 , haemoglobin and Erc‐folate concentrations increased significantly while P‐B 12 and P‐folate remained unchanged. Iron status, as well as dietary intake of iron, appeared insufficient prior to, as well as after treatment. Serum iron, transferrin saturation and haemoglobin concentrations were lower in patients who had acquired the disease abroad or suffered from persistent diarrhoea.