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Vitamin B12 and folate. Pediatric reference ranges

J M Hicks1, J Cook, I D Godwin

  • 1Department of Laboratory Medicine, Children's National Medical Center.

Archives of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine
|July 1, 1993
PubMed
Summary

This study establishes pediatric reference ranges for vitamin B12 and folate. Folate levels decrease after age 13, while vitamin B12 is highest in infants and decreases by adolescence.

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Area of Science:

  • Clinical Chemistry
  • Pediatric Nutrition
  • Biomarker Reference Ranges

Background:

  • Accurate pediatric reference ranges for essential vitamins like B12 and folate are crucial for diagnosing deficiencies and monitoring growth.
  • Existing data may not fully capture age- and sex-specific variations in these micronutrients during childhood and adolescence.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine and analyze pediatric reference ranges for serum vitamin B12 and folate levels.
  • To investigate age- and sex-dependent trends in folate and vitamin B12 concentrations in children and adolescents.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized Quantaphase radioimmunoassay to measure vitamin B12 and folate levels in a large pediatric hospital population.
  • Employed a computer-adapted Hoffman approach for robust statistical analysis of the obtained data.
  • Defined reference ranges based on age groups from infancy through adolescence (0-18 years).

Main Results:

  • Folic acid levels showed a significant decline after age 13, with upper limits of 16.5 nmol/L (females) and 19.9 nmol/L (males).
  • Vitamin B12 concentrations were highest in the 0-1 year age group, nearly double those observed in adolescents (13-18 years).
  • Specific ranges provided for both vitamins, differentiating by sex and age cohorts (e.g., 0-1 yr vs. 13-18 yr).

Conclusions:

  • Established comprehensive pediatric reference ranges for vitamin B12 and folate, highlighting significant age-related changes.
  • Findings underscore the importance of age- and sex-specific reference values for accurate clinical assessment in pediatric populations.
  • These data provide a valuable resource for clinicians managing pediatric nutrition and potential vitamin deficiencies.

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