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Vitamin B12 deficiency and incontinence in older people
A Garcia1, M Smith, M Freedman
1Division Geriatric Medicine, Queen's University, St. Mary's of the Lake Hospital, Kingston, Ontario, Canada.
Objectives:
To investigate the relationship between urinary incontinence and Vitamin B12 deficiency in community-living older people using standard serum cobalamin levels as well as the metabolites methylmalonic acid (MMA) and total homocysteine (HCYS).
Design:
A prospective cross-sectional study of community-living older people.
Participants:
Independent and cognitively normal adults (mean age=72 years, range=65-89 years) living in the community. One hundred and nineteen volunteers were recruited at group meetings, activity groups, and through the use of posters.
Measurements:
Information on urinary continence was provided by the participant during a systematic medical history, and was defined as any amount of uncontrolled leakage of urine. Vitamin B12, methylmalonic acid and homocysteine levels were determined in all subjects.
Main Results:
We found no significant differences between the continent and incontinent group in regard to their serum Vitamin B12 (OR=1.34, CI: 0.39-4.58, p=.424), methylmalonic acid levels (OR=0.71, CI: 0.24-2.10, p=.386), or total homocysteine levels (CI: 0.29-4.54, p=.535).
Conclusions:
In our study continence was not significantly affected by the B12 status of the subject; neither serum B12 levels or the metabolites MMA and HCYS (reflecting B12 function) were significantly different in the continent group versus the incontinent one.