Vitamin B12 status in Omani population-preliminary observations

ABSTRACT

One hunared and twenty three Omani Blood donors and 190 patients were investigated for the prevalence of vitamin B12 deficiency. Vitamin B12 deficiency is not uncommon in the Omani population The prevalence is high in females both in blood donors and in patients. In majority of females, vitamin B12 deficiency is also associated with depleted iron stores. The major cause for vitamin B12 deficiency appears to be poor intake and/or blood loss. The prevalence of pernicious anaemia is rare in the patient population in whom the serum B12 levels are low. A protocol to look for pernicious anaemia in vitaminB12 deficiency is proposed