Junaid Mahmood Alam.
Evaluation of Vitamin B12 and Folic Acid Deficiencies in Selective Middle Aged and Elderly Male and Female Patients.
Baqai J Health Sci Jan ;11(2):3-8.

Significant prevalence of vitamin B12 and folate deficiencies supported by biochemical evidence has been reported in the world. It was indicated that these biochemical evidences are associated with prevalence of anaemia in elderly. The major reasons of vitamin deficiencies, especially that of B-12, was reported to be inadequate dietary intake and, in the elderly, malabsorption of the vitamin from food. Vitamin deficiencies especially that of B-12 are usually diagnosed on the basis of serum or plasma vitamin concentrations. Due to dilemma of management and diagnoses of mal-nutrition and vitamin deficiencies in elderly population, the present study was undertaken to ascertain vitamin B12, folate and RBC folate status in selected middle aged and elderly male and female patients. A total of 132 patients (period March 2004 to November 2007), were selected according to gender and age. For males (n = 72); age groups were 50-60, 61-70, 71-80 yrs and greater than 80 yrs and for females (n = 60); age groups were 52-61, 62-69, 70-79 and greater than 80 yrs. The results clearly depicts that elderly patients in both gender between the age groups of 71 and greater than 80 had significantly low vitamin concentrations (p < 0.001) than the middle age groups of 61 to 70 (P < 0.01). Correspondingly, their hemoglobin levels were also relates to the overall picture of either normal or low concentrations of vitamins in all groups. In males the lowest concentration of 3.5 ng/ml for folate, Vitamin B12 of 228 pg/ml and 168 ng/ml for RBC folate were observed in > 80 years group preceded by 6.2 ng/ml, 278 pg/ml and 170 ng/ml respectively, in 71 to 80 years group, whereas in females, the observations were 2.5 ng/ml for folate, 220 pg/ml for B12 and 110 ng/ml for RBC folate concentrations in > 80 years age group of patients. In conclusion few management strategies were suggested for therapy of vitamin deficient older patients.

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