May solid food refusal and other non-specifi neurological symptoms be an early symptoms of Vitamin B12 defiiency in complementary feeding period?

Abstract

Aim: In this study, we showed an early symptoms of VB12 defiiency in infancy complementary feeding period (CFP) withouthematologic fidings. Vitamin B-12 (VB12) defiiency can result in severe neurological degeneration within the fist year of life. Inliterature, symptoms of VB12 defiiency in infant were described with hematologic fidings which were like a pernicious anemia.Material and Methods: A 104 of 1,848 mother-infant pairs admitted for well-child visits between January 2018 and December 2018were included in the study. All babies were diagnosed with vitamin B12 defiiency. All baby-mother pairs were monitored during theCFP were included in the study. Overall, 83 mother who met the inclusion criteria and who agreed to participate in the study and theirbabies, were included in the study.Results: The cause of follow-up of these children was refusal to breastfeed and irritability in 21 infants (25.3%). There were 19infants (22.9%) with solid food refusal, 16 infants (19.2%) with sleeping problems, and 16 infants (19.2%) with failure to thrive. Inthe remaining 11 infants (13.2%), there were mild hypotonia, microcephalia, vomiting, and growth retardation. The mean age for thedevelopment of these symptoms was 5.5 ± 1.7 months, while the mean age of being diagnosed with VB12 defiiency was 6.4±1.2months.Conclusions: In this study, symptoms of VB12 defiiency without any hematological symptoms and not caused by other organiccauses, and arising during the period of transition to complementary feeding, were demonstrated. Physician must be aware of earlyfidings of VB12 defiiency before severe neurological fidings and hematological sypmtoms.