Prevalence of iron, folate, and vitamin B12 deficiencies in 20 to 49 years old women: Ensanut 2012 / Prevalencia de deficiencias de hierro, folato y vitamina B12 en mujeres de 20 a 49 años: Ensanut 2012

Objective. To describe the prevalence of iron, folate, and B12 deficiencies in Mexican women of reproductive age from the National Health and Nutrition Survey (Ensanut) 2012. Materials and methods. Data came from a national probabilistic survey, representative from rural and urban areas, and different age groups. Blood samples were obtained from 4 263, 20 to 49 years old women for serum ferritin, vitamin B12 and serum folate concentrations. The prevalence of deficiencies, was assessed using adjusted logistic regression models. Results. The deficiency of folate was 1.9% (95%CI 1.3-2.8), B12 deficiency was 8.5% (95%CI 6.7-10.1) and iron deficiency was 29.4% (95%CI 26.5-32.2). No differences were found when compared with 2006, 24.8% (95%CI 22.3-27.2). Conclusions. The vitamin B12 deficiency is still a problem for women of reproductive age and their offspring in Mexico, while folate deficiency disappeared as a problem. Iron deficiency needs prevention and fortification strategies.

Objetivo. Describir las prevalencias de deficiencias de hierro, folato y B12 en mujeres mexicanas en edad reproductiva de la Encuesta Nacional de Salud y Nutrición (Ensanut) 2012. Material y métodos. Datos derivados de una encuesta probabilística nacional, representativa del área rural y urbana por grupos de edad. Se obtuvo una submuestra de sangre en 4 263 mujeres de 20 a 49 años de edad para medir las concentraciones séricas de ferritina, vitamina B12 y folato. Las deficiencias fueron evaluadas mediante regresiones logísticas múltiples ajustadas. Resultados. La prevalencia de deficiencias de folatos fue de 1.9% (IC95% 1.3-2.8) y vitamina B12 de 8.5% (IC95% 6.7-10.1). La deficiencia de hierro no fue diferente a la de 2006: 29.4% (IC95% 26.5-32.2) vs 24.8% (IC95% 22.3-27.2). Conclusiones. La prevalencia de deficiencias de hierro y vitamina B12 todavía representan un problema en mujeres mexicanas (20-49), mientras que la deficiencia de folato ha dejado de ser un problema de salud pública. Aún se requieren estrategias de prevención en México.

Nivel sérico de folato y vitamina B12 en adultos mayores chilenos: Resultados de la Encuesta Nacional de Salud ENS 2009-2010 / Serum folate and vitamin B12 in older people: Results from the Chilean national health survey 2009-2010

Supraphysiological levels (SFL) of serum folate (SF) derived from flour fortification with folic acid (FA) could be risky among older adults with low vitamin B12 (B12) levels. Aim: To describe and analyze SF and B12 levels in older Chileans and to identify risk groups. Material and Methods: Participants were 1.043 older people aged ≥ 65 years from the National Health Chilean Health Survey 2009-2010 (ChNHS 2009-10), a multistage stratified random sample, representative of the national population. SF (µg/L) and B12 (pg/ml) were determined in fasting samples by competitive chemoluminescence immunoassay. Mean, deciles and percentiles 5 and 95th were calculated. We defined SF categories: < 4.4 (deficit); 4.41-20 (normal) and SFL: 20.01-25.6; 25.6-29 and > 29 µg/L (80th percentile of the distribution) and vitamin B12 categories: ≤ 200 (deficit); 200.1-299.5 (marginal deficit) and > 299.5 (normal). Prevalence rates, multiple and logistic regression models were used and adjusted by sex and age, educational level and residence area. Results: SF and B12 mean and 95th percentiles were 21.2 ± 0.56/38.6 µg/L and 348.4 ± 7.6/637(pg/ml) respectively. Forty nine percent of participants had SFL. Folate and B12 deficiency were present in 0.3 and 8.1% of participants, respectively. Men had significantly lower prevalence of SFL > 29 µg/L (OR adjusted odds ratio 0.47 95% confidence intervals: 0.26-0.84). B12 showed no significant variation by age and sex. The prevalence of SFL associated with B12 deficiency was 4.1%. No statistically significant association was observed between levels of folate and B12. Conclusions: Folate deficit is almost inexistent, but a significant percentage of participants had SFL suggesting the need for revising the current wheat flour fortification levels.

Déficit de vitamina B-12 en adultos mayores: ¿Un problema de salud pública en Chile? / Prevalence of vitamin B-12 deficiency in older adults

Background: There is a correlation between aging and the decrease of plasma levels of vitamin B-12. Aim: To determine the prevalence of vitamin B-12 and folate deficiency and its hematological impact among older adults (AM). Material and Methods: Cross-sectional study, in 1028 subjects aged 65 to 87years, living in community and evaluated between 2005 and 2008. Percentile distribution of vitamin B-12, folate, hemoglobin, packed red cell volume and mean cell volume by gender and age were analyzed. Deficiency was defined as vitamin B-12 levels < 148 pmol/L, marginal deficiency as vitamin B-12 levels < 221 pmol/L, anemia was defined as a hemoglobin < 13 and 12 g/dL among men and women, respectively. Results: The prevalence of vitamin B-12 deficiency was 12 percent and the figure for marginal deficiency was 25.4 percent. Males were more affected than females (p < 0.001). The frequency of anemia was 8.6 percento, and was higher among women (p = 0.004). Conclusions: There is a high prevalence of full blown and marginal deficit of vitamin B-12 among the elderly. This deficiency should be considered for correction through public nutrition policies.

Tratamento dietético da hiper-homocisteinemia na doença arterial periférica: [revisão] / Dietary treatment of hyperhomocysteinemia in peripheral arterial disease: [review]

A homocisteína está envolvida na gênese da aterosclerose e, assim, é considerada um importante e prevalente fator de risco na doença arterial periférica. O estado nutricional vitamínico deficiente, em especial do folato, é a principal causa de hiper-homocisteinemia nesses casos. Embora ainda não haja consenso sobre a dose exata e a forma de utilização do folato em suplementos e sobre adequação alimentar ou fortificação de cereais para o tratamento da hiper-homocisteinemia, diversos estudos realizados em pacientes com doença vascular periférica mostraram que o folato, isoladamente, pode reduzir as concentrações de homocisteína, bem como a concentração de alguns marcadores biológicos do processo de aterosclerose...

Homocysteine plays a role in the genesis of atherosclerosis and, thus, it is considered an important and prevalent risk factor for peripheral arterial disease. Impaired vitamin nutritional status, especially regarding folate, may be mainly attributed to hyperhomocysteinemia. Although there is still no consensus as to the exact dose and method of use of folate in supplements, dietary adjustment or cereal fortification for the treatment of hyperhomocysteinemia, several studies conducted in patients with peripheral vascular disease have shown that isolated folate may reduce homocysteine levels, as well as the levels of some biological markers in the atherosclerotic process...

Hiperhomocisteinemia como fator de risco para doença aterosclerótica coronária em idosos / Hyperhomocysteinemia as risk factor for coronary artery disease in the elderly

Para investigar o papel da hiperhomocisteinemia como fator de risco independente para doença aterosclerótica coronária em idosos realizou-se estudo caso-controle com 172 idosos. Visou-se também estimar níveis sangüíneos de homocisteína, vitaminas B6, B12, e folato. A hiperhomocisteinemia constituiu fator de risco independente para doença aterosclerótica coronária em idosos. Déficit de folato foi pouco freqüente, contrastando com déficit de vitaminas B6 e B12 em aproximadamente metade dos idosos.We realized a case-control study among 172 elderly patients in order to investigate hyperhomocysteinemia as an independent risk factor for coronary artery disease in the elderly. We also estimated blood levels of homocysteine, folate, B6 and B12 vitamins. Hyperhomocysteinemia was an independent risk factor for coronary artery disease in this elderly population. Folate deficiency was rare, and vitamin B12 and B6 occurred in approximately half of the studied population...

Hematologic abnormalities in recurrent oral ulceration.

The aim of this study was to analyse the hematologic status in patients with recurrent oral ulceration (ROU). Twenty-three patients with ROU and 19 control subjects were examined consecutively for hematological abnormalities including serum folate, red cell folate and vitamin B12 levels. Their complete blood counts, hemoglobin typing, serum and red cell folate and serum vitamin B12 levels were studied. Low red cell folate levels were found in 11 out of 23 patients (47.83%) with ROU. They were defined as having folate deficiency (n=5), folate deficient erythropoiesis (n=1), and folate depletion (n=5). The serum and red cell folate levels in the control group were within normal range. There was a statistically significant low red cell folate in the ROU compared to the control group (p=0.000). The serum vitamin B12 levels were within normal range in both ROU and control groups. Hemoglobin, hematocrit and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentrations were in the normal range in both groups and none had anemia or macrocytosis.

Folato e ferritina na gestação / Folate and Ferritin in pregnancy

As deficiências de folato e de ferritina sérica acarretam anemia em gestantes (considerada mundialmente um problema de Saúde Pública). O objetivo do trabalho foi estudar os níveis de folato e de ferritina séricos em gestantes. Foram determinadas as dosagens de folato e de ferritina e o eritograma de 90 gestantes, usuárias dos serviços de Pré-Natal do Hospital e Maternidade Vila Nova Cachoeirinha e do Hospital Universitário da USP. Das gestantes , 22,2(per cent) eram anêmicas e 2,2(per cent) eram deficientes de acido fólico; 18,8(per cent) eram deficientes de ferritina e anêmicas ao mesmo tempo. A média dos níveis de folato sérico foi de 7,42ng/ml com dp ñ 3,49. A média dos níveis de ferritina sérica foi 47,22 ng/ml com dp ñ 44,02. Analisando os prontuários das pacientes após o parto, observamos que cinco abortaram; houve um caso de cardiopatia congênita e nunhuma delas teve concepto afetado por defeito de tibo neural (au)

Anemia due to folic acid, vitamin B12 and iron deficiencies in some pregnant and non-pregnant women in Kerman city

Fifty-three pregnant and 58 non-pregnant women, attending one of the hospitals in Kerman city, were selected according to set criteria and included in the study. The mean age was 24 years and the mean panty two. Nutritional status was assessed on the basis of blood and serum biochemical parameters. Results obtained showed that 4%, 3%. 17%, 12% and 13.3% of the women have low level of Hb, Hct MCV MCHC and MCH, respectively. Also, the percentages of women suffering from a deficiency of folic acid, vitamin B12 and iron were 16.9%, 7% and 8.7% respectively. In 18.7% of the subjects the transferrin saturation percentage was lower, and in 46.6% of them TIBC was higher, than normal

Vitamin B12, folic acid and haematological status in elderly Thais.

Serum vitamin B12, folic acid and haematological data from 147 elderly people (55 males and 92 females) who visited the special clinic for the elderly at Rajvithi Hospital, Bangkok between July and November 1989 were investigated. The individuals studied came from a health-conscious group of the middle socio-economic class in Bangkok. All of them were fairly well except for minor ailments and typical diseases of elderly people such as hypertension, mild to moderate degree coronary heart diseases and non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus. There was a statistically significant difference in haemoglobin concentrations between males and females. According to the standard haemoglobin cut-off point values of 13 g/dl for males and 12 g/dl for females, anaemia was detected in 22 (15%) of the 147 subjects. The percentage of folic acid deficiency was found to be 20.6 per cent (30 of the 147 cases). Vitamin B12 insufficiency was found in only 6.9 per cent (10 of the 147 cases). No statistically significant correlation between haemoglobin, folic acid and vitamin B12 was found. However, when the data were grouped according to different intervals of increasing haemoglobin concentrations, for females there was a tendency for serum vitamin B12 to decrease, and serum folic acid to increase in both males and females. The results of this study suggest that folate deficiency may play a role in the occurrence of anaemia in elderly people, and therefore, dietary counselling and supplementation of folic acid are recommended.

Prevalência de deficiência de ferro em gestantes de primeira consulta em centros de saúde de área metropolitana, Brasil: etiologia da anemia / The prevalence of iron deficiency in pregnant women at their first consultation in health centers in a metropolitan area, Brazil: etiology of anemia in anemic pregnant women

No período compreendido entre abril e outubro de 1988, foram estudadas 363 gestantes de primeira consulta, que estavam inscritas no Programa de Atendimento à Gestante em oito Centros de Saúde da Secretaria da Saúde do Estado de Säo Paulo (Brasil). Na ocasiäo da coleta de material estas gestantes näo faziam uso de medicamentos que continham ferro, ácido fólico, vitamina B12 ou associaçöes destes. A idade média das gestantes foi de 25 anos; 65,9 por cento delas pertenciam a famílias com renda de até um SMPC (salário mínimo per capita) e apenas 3,1 por cento pertenciam a famílias com renda superior a 3 SMPC. Tomando-se a saturaçäo da transferrina inferior a 15 por cento como índice mínimo para definir a deficiência de ferro, a prevalência de deficiência de ferro no primeiro trimestre (4,6 por cento) foi significativamente menor do que a observada no segundo (17,3 por cento) e esta foi menor do que no terceiro trimestre (42,8 por cento). A prevalência de deficiência de ferro total agrupada nos três primeiros trimestres foi de 12,4 por cento. Näo houve diferença significativa entre as prevalências de deficiência de ferro segundo o número de partos. Esta prevalência foi maior no grupo das gestantes que pertenciam a famílias com renda de até 0,5 SMPC. Nas gestantes anêmicas, 46,7 por cento eram deficientes de ferro 44,4 por cento de ácido fólico, 20,0 por cento de ferro e ácido fólico e nenhuma delas eram deficientes de vitamina B12