Vitamin B12 concentrations and clinical spectrum of apparently healthy elderly population

: Prevalence of vitamin B12 deficiency is believedto increase with aging. The wide and non-specific spectrum ofclinical presentations in patients poses a tough challenge tophysicians suspecting vitamin B12 deficiency.Objectives : This study was conducted to collect data onprevalence and clinical features of vitamin B12 deficiency inapparently healthy elderly population visiting hospitals, as theresults could help rationalize and direct the appropriatemanagement of vitamin B12 status in elderly.Methods : This was a time bound cross sectional study whereapparently healthy individuals >50 years of age wereinterviewed, examined and investigated in order to study theirvitamin B12 concentrations and associated clinical profile.Results: A total of 103 participants were included. The meanvitamin B12 level of the study population was 327.07 pg/ml(S.D= 268.00). In the study, 43.7% (n=45 patients) had lowvitamin B12 levels (vitamin B12 deficiency) and 17.5 % (n=18patients) had subnormal vitamin B12 levels. Among all thesymptoms recorded neurological followed by cardiovascularsymptoms were more commonly recorded in the patients withvitamin B12 deficiency. Distal dysesthesia was more commonlypresent in patients with deficient (p 0.044) than in patientswith normal vitamin B12 levels. Ataxia and Romberg’s signpositivity were more common in patients with vitamin B12deficiency when compares to normal vitamin B12 levels (p0.002 and 0.006, respectively).Conclusion: The study shows that vitamin B12 deficiency is acommon problem among elderly and the treating physicianshould have high index of suspicion when they present withneurological complaints