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Decreased vitamin b(12) levels in children with nocturnal enuresis

Bülent Altunoluk1, Mehmet Davutoglu, Mesut Garipardic

  • 1Department of Urology, Faculty of Medicine, Kahramanmaras Sutcu Imam University, Yörükselim Mahallesi Hastane Caddesi 32, 46100 Kahramanmaras, Turkey.

ISRN Urology
|April 24, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Children with nocturnal enuresis (bedwetting) may have lower levels of vitamin B12 and folate. These findings suggest a potential link between these nutrient deficiencies and the common pediatric condition.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Nephrology
  • Nutritional Science
  • Neurodevelopmental Pediatrics

Background:

  • Nocturnal enuresis is a prevalent pediatric issue with an often unclear etiology.
  • The role of neurogenic maturation in enuresis is a subject of ongoing investigation.
  • Nutritional factors, such as vitamin levels, may influence neurological development and function.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the relationship between vitamin B12 and folate levels and primary nocturnal enuresis (PNE) in children.
  • To explore potential links between vitamin deficiencies and neurogenic maturation in enuretic children.
  • To compare vitamin B12 and folate levels in children with PNE against a healthy control group.

Main Methods:

  • A cross-sectional study involving 30 children with PNE and 31 healthy controls.
  • Measurements included body weight, height, complete blood counts, and serum vitamin B12 and folate levels.
  • Statistical comparison of anthropometric data and blood parameters between the enuresis and control groups.

Main Results:

  • No significant differences were observed in age, height, or weight between the groups.
  • Hemoglobin, hematocrit, and mean corpuscular volume (MCV) levels did not differ between children with enuresis and controls.
  • Children with nocturnal enuresis exhibited significantly lower mean levels of vitamin B12 and folate compared to the control group.

Conclusions:

  • The study suggests a potential association between vitamin B12 and folate deficiency and nocturnal enuresis in children.
  • Further research with larger cohorts is warranted to confirm these findings.
  • These results may inform future investigations into including vitamin B12 and folate testing in the routine evaluation of enuretic children.

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