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Compromised Vitamin B12 Status of Indian Infants and Toddlers

Bentu Kalyan G1, Medha Mittal1, Rahul Jain1

  • 175299Chacha Nehru Bal Chikitsalaya, New Delhi, India.

Food and Nutrition Bulletin
|September 3, 2020
PubMed

Insights

Vitamin B12 deficiency affects over a third of Indian infants and toddlers, potentially causing irreversible neurological harm. Early supplementation is crucial to prevent these severe consequences in young children.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Nutrition
  • Nutritional Deficiency
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Vitamin B12 deficiency is a global health concern, particularly impacting vegetarian populations.
  • Early childhood deficiency can lead to severe, long-lasting neurological and cognitive impairments.
  • Understanding prevalence in infants and toddlers is vital for informing nutritional policies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess the vitamin B12 status in healthy Indian children aged 6 to 23 months.
  • To identify the prevalence of vitamin B12 deficiency in this vulnerable age group.
  • To explore the correlation between dietary habits and vitamin B12 levels.

Main Methods:

  • A cross-sectional study involving 210 apparently healthy Indian children (6-23 months).
  • Analysis of hemogram, vitamin B12, folate, and ferritin levels.
  • Evaluation of dietary habits and their association with vitamin B12 status.

Main Results:

  • A significant prevalence of vitamin B12 deficiency was found in 37.6% of the participants.
  • Mean levels of vitamin B12, folate, and ferritin were determined.
  • Dietary analysis indicated a non-significant positive association between early animal milk consumption and vitamin B12 status.

Conclusions:

  • High prevalence of vitamin B12 deficiency necessitates urgent supplementation strategies for infants and toddlers.
  • Intervention is critical to prevent potential neurological damage.
  • Further research into dietary interventions may be warranted.
Abstract

Keywords:
childrendeficiencyvegetarianvitamin B12

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