VITAMIN B12 LEVELS IN GENERAL ADULT POPULATION OF SINDH.

Abstract

ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: Micronutrients such as vitamins are essential for body to function and
perform vital physiological functions. OBJECTIVE: To determine the frequency of vitamin
B12 levels in general adult population of Sindh. STUDY DESIGN: Cross sectional study
PLACE AND DURATION: Department of Pharmacology, Suleman Roshan Medical College,
Tando Adam from January 2021 to September 2021. METHODOLOGY: A sample of 1027
normal healthy adults of both genders was selected and entered in study protocol according to
the inclusion criteria. 2 ml blood was centrifuged, sera collected and vitamin B12 was measured
by ELISA method. Measured vitamin B12 was categorized as sufficiency (≥300 pg/mL),
marginal deficiency (200 - 299 pg/mL) and deficiency (<200 pg/mL). Vitamin B12 was
tabulated as mean +/- SD and analyzed by Student t-test using SPSS (ver. 19.0) (P ≤ 0.05).
RESULTS: Of 1027 participants, 513 (49.9%) were male and 514 (50.01%) were female
(P=0.9). Vitamin B12 sufficiency was found in 14.1% subjects compared to 85.9% deficiency.
Sufficiency, marginal deficiency and deficiency were found in 14.1%, 15.4% and 70.39%
respectively. Mean vitamin B12 in female was 201.3±19.1 pg/ml, 209.6±17.3 pg/ml in male
subjects (P=0.0001). Vitamin B12 in total study sample was found as 206.80±83.42 pg/ml.
CONCLUSION: The present study reports 85.9% of vitamin B12 deficiency. Sufficiency,
marginal deficiency and deficiency were found in 14.1%, 15.4% and 70.39% respectively.