Abstract

RAMIREZ PEREDA, Abraham et al. Vitamina B₁₂ y folato en adultos mayores urbanos no institucionalizado.. ALAN [online]. 2006, vol.56, n.2, pp.135-140. ISSN 0004-0622.

Summary Vitamin B₁₂ and folate deficiencies are the main nutritional determinants of hyperhomocysteinemia, which is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. There is scarce information about nutritional status on vitamin B₁₂ and serum levels of folate in Mexican older people. The objective was to evaluate the nutritional status of vitamin B₁₂ and folic acid concentration in non-institutionalized, urban elderly men and women subjects. One hundred volunteers over 60 years were included in this cross-sectional study. Serum levels of vitamin B₁₂ and folate were measured. In addition some biochemical and anthropometric indicators were also evaluated. Considering serum values of vitamin, 30% had vitamin B₁₂ deficiency, 52% normal status and 18% with high levels. None subjects had folic acid deficiency, by the contrary, a high proportion (62%) showed elevated levels in serum. There was an effect of sex on vitamin B₁₂ status. Elderly men showed significantly lower levels of vitamin B₁₂, and it was according with significant higher prevalence of vitamin B₁₂ deficiency in this group as compared with the women group. The high proportion of vitamin B₁₂ deficiency found in this study underline a possible public health problem and guarantee further survey-studies about vitamin B₁₂ status and to explore causes and consequences of the deficiency. Finally, due the sample size and the design of the study, the results must be seen with caution and not try to generalize.

Keywords : Folate; vitamin B₁₂ deficiency; cobalamin; older people.