Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 21, 2025
Author Spotlight: Studying the Impact of Maternal Dietary Deficiencies on Long-Term Offspring Health Outcomes
Published on: June 28, 2024
Defining Optimal Cobalamin Status for Neonates and Infants
1Laboratory of Medical Biochemistry, Innlandet Hospital Trust, Lillehammer, Norway.
Background:
An optimal cobalamin status is necessary for normal neurodevelopment.
Objective:
To give a description of the epidemiology, pathophysiology and diagnostic challenges related to cobalamin insufficiency in neonates and infants in order to prevent its occurence.
Results:
Inadequate cobalamin status is prevalent among neonates and young infants, due to a high prevalence of maternal cobalamin deficiency, exclusive breastfeeding for extended periods and late introduction of animal food. Cobalamin insufficiency is associated with delayed neurodevelopment and subtle clinical symptoms like feeding difficulties, regurgitations and constipation in young infants. Early diagnosis and treatment of impaired cobalamin status is important to prevent neurologic damage.
Conclusion:
Clinical suspicion of cobalamin insufficiency in infants should infer immediate biochemical testing and a plasma total homocysteine > 5.0 µmol/L indicate cobalamin insufficiency in need of intramuscular treatment with hydroxycobalamin, followed by introduction of animal food after 4 months of age.
Related Concept Videos
01:30Vitamins
01:22Development of Immunocompetence
The initial cells that migrate from the fetal thymus settle within the skin and epithelial tissues lining the mouth, digestive tract, and in females, the uterus and vagina. These cells, including skin-based dendritic cells, serve as antigen-presenting cells, playing a key role in T cell activation.
Subsequent T...
01:25Role of Vitamins in Maintaining Bone Health
Vitamin A
Vitamin A is involved in the process of bone remodeling. Retinoic acid, the active metabolite of Vitamin A, has nuclear receptors in osteoblasts and osteoclasts, which are involved in bone remodeling.
Vitamin B12
Vitamin B12 acts as a cofactor during the formation of osteoblast-related proteins, such as osteocalcin. Vitamin B12 plays a role...