Frequency of Anemia and Correlation with Mean Erythrocyte Volume in Children with B12 and Folate Deficiency

Abstract

Objectives: Vitamin B12 and folic acid deficiency is a disease that may cause neurological and psychiatric findings andanemia. In the literature, only 21.5% of patients with B12 deficiency have anemia. We aimed to investigate the rate ofanemia and macrocytosis in these patients.Methods: A total of 185 children (aged 1-18 years) were enrolled in the study, categorized under 4 groups, i.e. thosewith a low level of B12 or folic acid, those with low levels of both B12 and folic acid and those with a normal level of bothB12 and folic acid. Group 1 consisted of 47 patients with a normal level of B12 and folic acid. Group 2 comprised of 40patients with low levels of B12 and folic acid and Group 3 had 50 patients with a low level of folic acid but a normal levelof B12 and Group 4 consisted of 48 patients with a low level of Vitamin B12 and a normal level of folic acid.Results: There was no difference among the groups in terms of age (p=0.61) and gender (p=0.924). Anemia rates ingroups (HCT0.05).Conclusion: It is important to note that anemia and macrocytosis in children may not occur in most cases in case offolic acid and Vitamin B12 deficiency, and early treatment of these patients may prevent the accumulation of methylmalonicacid and homocysteine, eliminating neurological and psychiatric findings.