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Does B12 deficiency lead to change in brain metabolites in pediatric population? A MR spectroscopy study

Dilek Sen Dokumaci1, Ferit Dogan2, Suleyman Geter3

  • 1Department of Radiology, Harran University School of Medicine, Sanliurfa-Mardin Highway 18.Km, 63300, Sanliurfa, Turkey. dileksendokumaci@yahoo.com.

Neurological Sciences : Official Journal of the Italian Neurological Society and of the Italian Society of Clinical Neurophysiology
|June 27, 2019
PubMed

Insights

This study found no significant differences in brain metabolite ratios in children with vitamin B12 deficiency using MR spectroscopy. However, some patients showed brain atrophy and white matter hyperintensities, warranting further investigation.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Neurology
  • Neuroimaging
  • Metabolic Disorders

Background:

  • Vitamin B12 deficiency can impact neurological development in children.
  • Magnetic Resonance (MR) spectroscopy is a non-invasive tool to assess brain metabolites.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate brain metabolite alterations in children with vitamin B12 deficiency using MR spectroscopy.
  • To compare metabolite ratios in specific brain regions between deficient children and healthy controls.

Main Methods:

  • MR spectroscopy (1.5-Tesla) was performed on 18 children with vitamin B12 deficiency and 12 healthy controls.
  • Spectra were acquired from the left frontal periventricular white matter, left lentiform nucleus, and left cerebellar hemisphere.
  • Metabolite ratios (NAA/Cr, Cho/Cr, mI/Cr, Glx/Cr) and brain imaging for atrophy/myelination were analyzed.

Main Results:

  • No statistically significant differences were observed in any metabolite ratios across the studied brain regions between the groups.
  • Two patients exhibited periventricular white matter hyperintensities.
  • Brain atrophy was detected in four patients.

Conclusions:

  • MR spectroscopy did not reveal significant differences in key metabolite ratios in the examined brain regions of children with vitamin B12 deficiency.
  • The presence of brain atrophy and white matter changes in some patients suggests potential structural impacts despite normal metabolite levels.
Abstract

Keywords:
Brain MRIBrain metabolitesMR spectroscopyPediatric populationVitamin B12

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