High Prevalence of Vitamin B12 Deficiency in Preschool Children

Deficiency of Vitamin B12 is emerging as Public Health Concern in many low income countries and is a common cause of megaloblastic anemia, various neuropsychiatric symptoms and other clinical manifestations. WHO has identified infants, preschool children, and pregnant and lactating women as most vulnerable groups. Very little information is available on the prevalence of B 12 deficiency in preschool children in this part of country. The status of B 12 was therefore evaluated in a group of 190 children below the five years of age. 80 (30.5%) children were found to have B12 levels below 200 pgm/ml. The incidence of B 12 deficiency was 33.7% in children below one year of age and was 40% in four to five years of age group. Our study has shown high prevalence of B 12 deficiency in preschool children. Improving weaning practices in children and dietary habits of pregnant and lactating mothers including consumption of rich sources of vitamin B12, such as food derived from animal sources and fortified foods may help decrease B12 deficiency in preschool children