Vitamin B12 deficiency and neuropsychiatric symptoms in Lebanon: A cross-sectional study of vegans, vegetarians, and omnivores.

BACKGROUND: Vitamin B12 deficiency is responsible for a variety of complications, particularly neurological/neuropsychiatric complications, including depression, irritability, paresthesia and insomnia. Since vitamin B12 is found in animal-derived products, vegans/vegetarians are at a greater risk for developing vitamin B12 deficiency. AIMS: This study aims to investigate the occurrence of vitamin B12 deficiency among a sample of adult Lebanese population, with a particular emphasis on assessing the severity of its neurological/neuropsychiatric signs and symptoms, especially among vegans/vegetarians. METHODOLOGY: A cross-sectional study was conducted among a sample of 483 Lebanese adults. Data was collected through a standardized questionnaire that included socio-demographic characteristics, the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), Generalized anxiety disorders-7 (GAD-7), and the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) scales. RESULTS: Among the participants, 11.4% were in the vegan/vegetarian group, and about 43.1% had vitamin B12 deficiency. After analyzing the PHQ-9, GAD-7 and ISI total scores, higher scores were reported in participants with vitamin B12 deficiency, compared to individuals with normal vitamin B12 serum levels (p < 0.001). Regarding the diet type, vegans/vegetarians were more susceptible to developing depression compared to omnivores (mean scores of 11.92 vs 8.02 on the PHQ-9 scale, respectively, with p < 0.001). Of the patients with vitamin B12 deficiency, 81.1% reported having paresthesia compared to 43.7% of individuals with no vitamin B12 deficiency (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Vitamin B12 deficiency in Lebanon is notably high and is linked to an increased risk of developing depression, generalized anxiety disorder, insomnia, and paresthesia. Vegans/vegetarians exhibit a higher susceptibility to developing depression compared to omnivores, whereas the risk of developing insomnia, generalized anxiety disorder and paresthesia was statistically insignificant when comparing vegans/vegetarians to omnivores.

A Case of Severe Proton Pump Inhibitor-Induced Hypomagnesemia Refractory to Continuous Oral and Intravenous Magnesium Replenishment.

Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are frequently used medications to treat a wide variety of gastrointestinal conditions. By irreversibly inhibiting the hydrogen-potassium ATPase pump, they remarkably reduce gastric acid secretion. However, chronic PPI intake can result in serious complications, including severe hypomagnesemia. The following case report presents a severe case of refractory PPI-induced hypomagnesemia (PPIH), resistant to continuous oral and intravenous magnesium replacement, in a 70-year-old male patient, with a long history of PPI use due to persistent epigastric pain. Upon each of the 10 admissions to the hospital, he presented with severe signs and symptoms of hypomagnesemia, such as nausea, muscle fasciculation, diffuse cramps, weakness, neuromuscular irritability, and ECG disturbances, including non-specific T-wave abnormalities. In fact, PPIH has been reported for the first time in 2006. It is believed that the excessive, chronic intake of PPIs can disturb the normal functioning of the transient receptor potential melastatin 6/7 (TRPM 6/7), which is the main pathway of active intestinal magnesium absorption, leading to hypomagnesemia. PPIH is typically characterized by stubborn resistance to oral and intravenous magnesium replenishment but usually resolves after PPI withdrawal. Hence, despite being among the safest and most commonly prescribed drugs, PPI intake should be closely monitored when prolonged usage is planned. Additionally, continuous follow-up and regular assessment of serum magnesium levels are crucial to avoid the occurrence of PPIH and to prevent its potentially deleterious complications, including life-threatening arrhythmias.