Is Serum Methylmalonic Acid a Reliable Biomarker of Vitamin B12 Status in Children with Short Bowel Syndrome: A Case Series

J Pediatr. 2018 Jan:192:259-261. doi: 10.1016/j.jpeds.2017.09.024. Epub 2017 Nov 9.

Abstract

We describe 3 patients with short bowel syndrome who had persistently elevated serum methylmalonic acid (MMA) levels while being treated for vitamin B12 deficiency. Following treatment for presumed small bowel bacterial overgrowth, MMA levels normalized. Among patients with short bowel syndrome, MMA levels may have limited specificity for vitamin B12 deficiency.

Keywords: methylmalonic acid; short bowel syndrome; small bowel bacterial overgrowth; vitamin B12 deficiency.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Biomarkers / blood
  • Blind Loop Syndrome / blood
  • Blind Loop Syndrome / diagnosis*
  • Blind Loop Syndrome / etiology
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Methylmalonic Acid / blood*
  • Short Bowel Syndrome / complications*
  • Short Bowel Syndrome / microbiology
  • Vitamin B 12 / therapeutic use
  • Vitamin B 12 Deficiency / blood
  • Vitamin B 12 Deficiency / diagnosis*
  • Vitamin B 12 Deficiency / drug therapy
  • Vitamin B 12 Deficiency / etiology
  • Vitamin B Complex / therapeutic use

Substances

  • Biomarkers
  • Vitamin B Complex
  • Methylmalonic Acid
  • Vitamin B 12