763 Vitamin B12 and Folate Deficiency in Healthy Neonates and their Mothers

Background and Aim We aimed to determine the incidence of vitamin B12 and folate deficiency in healthy neonates and their mothers; to show the correlation between maternal and neonatal B12 and folate levels. Method The study consisted of 99 healthy neonates and their mothers who gave birth in Zeynep Kamil Maternity and Children Training and Research Hospital, I˙stanbul. Hospital records were reviewed and blood samples were obtained from both mothers and their babies in the 24 hours after birth. Serum vitamin B12 and folate levels were measured. SPSS 15.0 package program was used for statistical analysis. Results The mean values were as follows: in mothers serum vitamin B12 level 180.84± 58.81 pg/dl and folate level 17.61±20.61 nmol/L; in neonates vitamin B12: 320.43±187.48 pg/dl and folate: 26.05±34.45 nmol/L. There was significant correlation between maternal and neonatal folate levels but a slight correlation between maternal and neonatal B12 levels. 97% of mothers and 25.3% of neonates had B12 deficiency when the threshold level is defined as 300 pg/ml for mothers and 200 pg/dl for neonates. Conclusion Due to high vitamin B12 deficiency rate in mothers a universal B12 vitamin screening program and preventative measures of B12 deficiency in pregnant women can reduce the potential complications of vitamin B12 deficiency in mothers and their siblings.