Iron Deficiency and Vitamin B12/Folate Levels. A Case-Control Study.

A number of cases with iron deficiency anemia (IDA) are associated with low vitamin B12 (LB12). However, LB12 is not synonymous with B12 deficiency. An increase in homocysteine (Hcy) or methylmalonic acid can differentiate cases with a real deficiency from those with apparently innocuous LB12. Our aim was to study LB12 and low red cell folate (LRCF) prevalence in IDA cases and to determine the existence of B12/folate deficiency. A prospective case-control study was carried out in patients with anemia consecutively admitted to our Hospital. The case group included 506 IDA patients (Hb 5mg/l). The control group was made up of 117 patients with anemia of chronic disorders (ACD) (Hb 100microg/l and soluble transferrin receptor 17micromol/l. Several variables were included in a multiple regression analysis to build a predictive model for IDA with LB12 and hyperHcy. LB12 was observed in 17.8% of IDA cases (87 cases), including 8.2% with B12