Assessment of vitamin B12 and folate status and their determinants in children aged 6-59 months with severe acute malnutrition admitted to a tertiary-care centre in North India.

BACKGROUND

Vitamin B12 and folate are essential micronutrients, a deficiency of which causes anaemia, poor growth and an increased risk of infections, along with irreversible neurological damage to the developing brain in children.

METHODS

A hospital-based prospective observational study was conducted in 100 children with severe acute malnutrition (SAM) aged 6-59 months admitted to a tertiary-care facility in northern India from July 2021 to June 2022. A structured proforma was used to record socio-demographic information, a detailed clinical history, results of general and systemic physical examination and a detailed anthropometric assessment. Serum folate and vitamin B12 were estimated by electrochemiluminescence.

RESULTS

The mean age of the children was 24.18 months, and 64.0% were aged 6-12 months. The male-to-female ratio was 1.08:1. Anaemia was present in 87.0% of the children, and it was severe in 35% of them. There was serum vitamin B12 and folate deficiency in 61.0% and 19.0%, respectively. A deficiency of vitamin B12 was significantly associated with delayed developmental milestones in all domains, a mid-upper-arm circumference of <11.5 cm, severe anaemia, a low platelet count and folate deficiency, and a folate deficiency was significantly associated with older age, delayed developmental milestones in all domains, severe anaemia, a low platelet count and vitamin B12 deficiency.

CONCLUSION

Vitamin B12 deficiency is highly prevalent in children aged 6-59 months with SAM, but the prevalence of folate deficiency is much lower. Apart from iron and folic acid supplementation, government programmes should consider vitamin B12 supplementation for children aged 6-59 months.