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Prevalence of Vitamin B12 and Folate Deficiency in School Children Residing at High Altitude Regions in India

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Abstract

Objective

To assess the prevalence of vitamin B12 and folate deficiencies among children residing at high altitude regions of Himachal Pradesh, India.

Methods

A total of 215 school children in the age group of 6–18 y were included. Biochemical estimation of serum vitamin B12 and folate levels was undertaken using chemiluminescence immunoassay method. The consumption pattern of foods high in dietary vitamin B12 and folate was recorded using Food Frequency Questionnaire.

Results

The median levels (interquartile range) of serum vitamin B12 and folate were 326 (259–395) pg/ml and 7.7 (6–10) ng/ml respectively. The prevalence of vitamin B12 and folate deficiency amongst school age children was found as 7.4% and 1.5% respectively.

Conclusions

A low prevalence of vitamin B12 and folate deficiencies was found amongst children aged 6–18 y living at high altitude regions in India. This is possibly due to high frequency of consumption of foods rich in vitamin B12 and folate.

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Acknowledgements

The authors are extremely grateful to Department of Biotechnology, Government of India (vide letter no: BT/PR6701/ FNS/20/674/2012) for providing them the financial grant for conducting this study.

Contributions

AG: Literature review, content developing, manuscript development; UK: Concept, literature review, content developing, manuscript development and will act as guarantor for the paper; LR: Biochemical estimations; RMP: Data analysis and interpretation; CPY: Data analysis and interpretation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Human Nutrition, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, 110029, India

    Aakriti Gupta & Umesh Kapil

  2. Department of Cardiac Biochemistry, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India

    Lakshmy Ramakrishnan

  3. Department of Biostatistics, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India

    Ravindra Mohan Pandey & Chander Prakash Yadav

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  1. Aakriti Gupta
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  2. Umesh Kapil
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Correspondence to Umesh Kapil.

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Gupta, A., Kapil, U., Ramakrishnan, L. et al. Prevalence of Vitamin B12 and Folate Deficiency in School Children Residing at High Altitude Regions in India. Indian J Pediatr 84, 289–293 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12098-017-2291-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12098-017-2291-7

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