Vitamin B₁₂ Deficiency Among the Healthy Jordanian Adult Population: Diagnostic Levels, Symptomology and Risk Factors

Title:Vitamin B₁₂ Deficiency Among the Healthy Jordanian Adult Population: Diagnostic Levels, Symptomology and Risk Factors

Volume: 21 Issue: 6

Author(s): Amer Abu-Shanab*, Malek Zihlif, Momen N. Rbeihat, Zakaria W. Shkoukani, Alia Khamis, Ula Isleem and Latefa A. Dardas

Affiliation:

• Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Jordan, Queen Rania Street, Amman,Jordan

Keywords: Vitamin B₁₂ deficiency, Arabs, diet, Jordan, memory loss, cut-off point, supplements, risk factors.

Abstract:

Background: Compared to the data available for developed countries, there is a marked scarcity of information on the levels and symptomology of vitamin B₁₂ deficiency in developing countries, particularly in the Middle Eastern region.

Objective: To explore (a) the risk factors associated with a deficiency of vitamin B₁₂, and (b) the baseline (cut-off) serum level of vitamin B₁₂ for a clinically-symptomatic deficiency in the Jordanian adult population.

Methods: A total of 485 subjects were included in this study. Blood samples were drawn for biochemical analysis and data regarding socio-demographics, general health, anthropometric measures, and past medical, surgical, and medication history were collected. To explore the cut-off point, we compared all parameters included in a standard complete blood count as well as the main symptoms reported to be associated with B₁₂ deficiency between groups of different B₁₂ cut-off values, consisting of those above and below 200, 175, 150 and 125 pg/ml.

Results: Low dairy intake habits, age, recurrent headaches, heartburn, and peptic ulcer disease were found to be significantly associated with lower vitamin B₁₂ levels. Surprisingly, daily smoking was associated with significantly higher B₁₂ levels. The results revealed that none of the included potential indicators of B₁₂ deficiency could be considered an indicative feature of deficiency. There were no significant differences neither in the symptoms nor in the CBC parameters between any of the tested study groups.

Conclusion: Low dairy intake, older ages, recurrent headaches, heartburn, and peptic ulcer disease all could be considered as risk factors of having low vitamin B₁₂ levels within the Jordanians. Also, they tend to have lower levels of vitamin B₁₂ levels, in comparison to countries in the West, without necessarily having deficiency symptoms. The cut-off value to diagnose functional B₁₂ deficiency could be less than 125 pg/ml for the Jordanians. More local studies are needed to establish an accurate vitamin B₁₂ cut-off value for the population in Jordan.

Cite this article as:

Abu-Shanab Amer *, Zihlif Malek , Rbeihat N. Momen , Shkoukani W. Zakaria , Khamis Alia, Isleem Ula and Dardas A. Latefa , Vitamin B₁₂ Deficiency Among the Healthy Jordanian Adult Population: Diagnostic Levels, Symptomology and Risk Factors, Endocrine, Metabolic & Immune Disorders - Drug Targets 2021; 21 (6) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1871530320999200831230205