Prevalence of Vitamin B12 Deficiency in Malnourished Children: A Cross-Sectional Study
The objective of this research paper is to determine the frequency of Vitamin B12 deficiency in malnourished children presenting in outpatient clinics in a Pediatrics Department and to identify associated risk factors using a cross-sectional study design. The research was carried out at the Depart...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Liaquat National Hospital and Medical College
2025-07-01
|
| Series: | Liaquat National Journal of Primary Care |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://journals.lnh.edu.pk/lnjpc/pdf/2354349c-7182-430e-8c39-cd26e59df19c.pdf |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1849410380885917696 |
|---|---|
| author | Madhia Abid Fehmina Arif |
| author_facet | Madhia Abid Fehmina Arif |
| author_sort | Madhia Abid |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The objective of this research paper is to determine the frequency of Vitamin B12 deficiency in malnourished children presenting in
outpatient clinics in a Pediatrics Department and to identify associated risk factors using a cross-sectional study design. The research
was carried out at the Department of Pediatrics, Dr. Ruth Pfau Civil Hospital Karachi, for 6 months from 22-01-2020 to 21-07-2020.
All pediatric patients, aged 6 to 60 months of either gender, either visiting and/or admitted to the Department of Pediatrics, Civil
Hospital, were evaluated. Blood samples were obtained from 91 malnourished patients to measure Vitamin B12 levels. Forty-two
(46%) children were found to be Vitamin B12 deficient. Children younger than 15 months (19%) and those aged 36 to 60 months
(55%) had a high prevalence of Vitamin B12 deficiency. Mean Vitamin B12 levels were136.93±93.23pg/ml. The Regression analysis
showed a significant relationship of Vitamin B12 deficiency with socioeconomic status and dominant breastfeeding, (p-value < 0.05).
Malnourished children have a higher frequency of vitamin B12 deficiency. Public health initiatives should emphasize balanced feeding
practices, combining breastfeeding with adequate complementary foods rich in Vitamin B12. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-dfa36db4518743c380a38d9f1d1e80de |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2707-3521 2708-9134 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | Liaquat National Hospital and Medical College |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Liaquat National Journal of Primary Care |
| spelling | doaj-art-dfa36db4518743c380a38d9f1d1e80de2025-08-20T03:35:07ZengLiaquat National Hospital and Medical CollegeLiaquat National Journal of Primary Care2707-35212708-91342025-07-017328328710.37184/lnjpc.2707-3521.7.49Prevalence of Vitamin B12 Deficiency in Malnourished Children: A Cross-Sectional StudyMadhia Abid0Fehmina Arif1Dow University Hospital, Karachi, PakistanDepartment of Paediatrics, K.M. Ruth Pfau Civil Hospital, Karachi, PakistanThe objective of this research paper is to determine the frequency of Vitamin B12 deficiency in malnourished children presenting in outpatient clinics in a Pediatrics Department and to identify associated risk factors using a cross-sectional study design. The research was carried out at the Department of Pediatrics, Dr. Ruth Pfau Civil Hospital Karachi, for 6 months from 22-01-2020 to 21-07-2020. All pediatric patients, aged 6 to 60 months of either gender, either visiting and/or admitted to the Department of Pediatrics, Civil Hospital, were evaluated. Blood samples were obtained from 91 malnourished patients to measure Vitamin B12 levels. Forty-two (46%) children were found to be Vitamin B12 deficient. Children younger than 15 months (19%) and those aged 36 to 60 months (55%) had a high prevalence of Vitamin B12 deficiency. Mean Vitamin B12 levels were136.93±93.23pg/ml. The Regression analysis showed a significant relationship of Vitamin B12 deficiency with socioeconomic status and dominant breastfeeding, (p-value < 0.05). Malnourished children have a higher frequency of vitamin B12 deficiency. Public health initiatives should emphasize balanced feeding practices, combining breastfeeding with adequate complementary foods rich in Vitamin B12.https://journals.lnh.edu.pk/lnjpc/pdf/2354349c-7182-430e-8c39-cd26e59df19c.pdfvitamin b12malnutrition anemiacobalamindominant breastfeeding |
| spellingShingle | Madhia Abid Fehmina Arif Prevalence of Vitamin B12 Deficiency in Malnourished Children: A Cross-Sectional Study Liaquat National Journal of Primary Care vitamin b12 malnutrition anemia cobalamin dominant breastfeeding |
| title | Prevalence of Vitamin B12 Deficiency in Malnourished Children: A Cross-Sectional Study |
| title_full | Prevalence of Vitamin B12 Deficiency in Malnourished Children: A Cross-Sectional Study |
| title_fullStr | Prevalence of Vitamin B12 Deficiency in Malnourished Children: A Cross-Sectional Study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Prevalence of Vitamin B12 Deficiency in Malnourished Children: A Cross-Sectional Study |
| title_short | Prevalence of Vitamin B12 Deficiency in Malnourished Children: A Cross-Sectional Study |
| title_sort | prevalence of vitamin b12 deficiency in malnourished children a cross sectional study |
| topic | vitamin b12 malnutrition anemia cobalamin dominant breastfeeding |
| url | https://journals.lnh.edu.pk/lnjpc/pdf/2354349c-7182-430e-8c39-cd26e59df19c.pdf |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT madhiaabid prevalenceofvitaminb12deficiencyinmalnourishedchildrenacrosssectionalstudy AT fehminaarif prevalenceofvitaminb12deficiencyinmalnourishedchildrenacrosssectionalstudy |