Vitamin B12 and homocysteine status in asymptomatic Indian toddlers

Indian J Pediatr. 2008 Jul;75(7):751-3. doi: 10.1007/s12098-008-0143-1. Epub 2008 Aug 21.

Abstract

Low serum vitamin B(12) (V B(12)) and hyperhomocysteinemia have been reported in asymptomatic Asian Indian men. We studied the prevalence of V B(12) deficiency and hyperhomocysteinemia in 51 asymptomatic toddlers, from Pune, India. V B(12) levels were low and total serum homocysteine was high in 14% and homocysteine levels were significantly higher in boys. Programming for cardiovascular risk in adulthood possibly starts at a very young age through the homocysteine axis.

MeSH terms

  • Body Height
  • Body Weight
  • Child, Preschool
  • Comorbidity
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Diet, Vegetarian / statistics & numerical data*
  • Female
  • Folic Acid / blood
  • Homocysteine / blood*
  • Humans
  • Hyperhomocysteinemia / blood
  • Hyperhomocysteinemia / diagnosis
  • Hyperhomocysteinemia / epidemiology*
  • India / epidemiology
  • Male
  • Prevalence
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Vitamin B 12 / blood*
  • Vitamin B 12 Deficiency / blood
  • Vitamin B 12 Deficiency / diagnosis
  • Vitamin B 12 Deficiency / epidemiology*

Substances

  • Homocysteine
  • Folic Acid
  • Vitamin B 12