Serum folate and vitamin B[12] status in healthy Iranian adults

To assess the serum folate and vitamin B[12] status in healthy Iranian adults, we designed a population-based cross-sectional study of 1200 individuals aged 20-80 years. Finally 984 participants [507 men and 477 women] were assessed. The mean serum folate was 4.61 [SD 2.40] ng/mL and the mean serum vitamin B[12] level was 265.6 [SD 170.9] pg/mL. Overall 1.0% were folate deficient and 25.8% had low vitamin B[12] levels according to the manufacturer's reference ranges [folate < 1.5 ng/mL and vitamin B[12] < 160 pg/mL]. The mean serum folate and vitamin B[12] levels were significantly lower in men. The prevalence of vitamin B[12] deficiency was considerably higher than folate deficiency. Implementation of preventive measures seems to be necessary

High frequency of low serum levels of vitamin B [12] among patients attending Jordan University Hospital

This study aimed to estimate the status of serum vitamin B[12] level in patients attending Jordan University Hospital in Amman, and to examine the relationship with demographic data, chronic illness, dietary habits, haematological parameters and symptoms related to vitamin B[12] levels. A total of 838 patients completed a questionnaire and gave blood samples; 44.6% were vitamin B[12] deficient [< 180 pg/mL] and 34.2% had hypovitaminosis [180-300 pg/mL]. Vitamin B[12] deficiency was associated with memory impairment, low meat intake and strict vegetarian [vegan] diets. The high frequency of low vitamin B[12] warrants the development of a strategy to correct this problem in Jordan