Vitamin B12 levels in term pregnant mothers and their newborn infants' cordon blood

ABSTRACT INVESTIGATION OF SERUM VITAMIN B12 LEVELS IN TERM NEWBORNS AND THEIR MOTHERS Objective: Vitamin B12 is an important issue which is not value as it's deserved. Vitamin B12 is necesarry for growth and development as well as the maintenance of a healthy life. Vitamin B12 deficieny can be seen in children and adults of life including neonatal period. Underlying etiological cause of neonatal vitamin B12 deficiency is mostly due to maternal vitamin B12 deficiency. We examinated etiological problem and incidence by investigating vitamin B12 levels of newborn and mothers. Methods: In this prospective study we examined newborn and maternal serum vitamin B12 levels without any health problems who were born in between June- November 2014 at clinics of Obstetrics and Gynecology Düzce Univercity Research Hospital with 37-42 gestational weeks newborns and their mothers were questionated about neonatal and maternal vitamin B12 levels, mothers age and jobs, medical history of taking proton pump inhibitors and H2 receptor inhibitors, gastrointestinal surgery, parasitosis, malabsorption, socioeconomic and educational levels, eating habits. Results: Serum vitamin B12 levels were examinated in 100 babies and 100 mothers. İnfants who had vitamin B12 levels <160 pg/ml range were considered deficiency, 160-199 pg/ml range insufficiency and 200-1300 pg/ml range as normal values. Serum vitamin B12 deficiency was found in 43%, insufficiency in 13% and normal values in 44% of cases. In maternal vitamin B12 levels <220pg/ml were considered deficiency, 220-299pg/ml as insufficiency and 300-940 range as normal values. Serum vitamin B12 deficiency was found in 4%, insufficiency in 94% and normal values in 2% of cases. Statistical analysis showed that there was a significant correlation between newborns and their maternal serum vitamin B12 deficiency. Even though there was no established relationship between socioeconomic status, level of education or consumption of food rich in vitamin B12 and serum levels of mothers and infants; risk of vitamin B12 deficiency decline when socioeconomic status, level of education improves and comsumption of food rich in vitamin B12 increase. Conclusion: Vitamin B12 deficiency, including all segments of society, especially in families with lower socio-economic status is an important health problem. Even without any clinical symptoms in adults, including the neonatal period vitamin B12 deficiency might be seen in childhood. Vitamin B12 deficiency can be reduced without causing clinical problems by routine screening and prophylactic measures. Keywords: Vitamin B12, pregnancy, cord blood