A study of the prevalence of vitamin B12 deficiency in Turlock, California

Abstract

B12 (cobalamin) is essential to maintain proper neurologic functioning. Patients with vitamin B12 deficiency may suffer from fatigue, neurologic disease, paresthesia, and megaloblastic anemia. Overall, the prevalence of B12 deficiency is difficult to assess because there is no consistent diagnostic criteria by which practitioners can distinguish deficient from nondeficient patients. In developed countries, it is estimated that 20% of the population is cobalamin-deficient, with other studies suggesting numbers varying between 5% and 60%. The goal of this community-based case-control study was to investigate the prevalence of B12 deficiency in a developed population and to evaluate and discuss factors thought to contribute to B12 deficiency. A computer record search found the number of B12-deficient patients diagnosed at three different primary care offices in the city of Turlock, California. These search results were further analyzed for the collective prevalence of B12 deficiency, as well as the age-based and gender-based prevalence. Results show an overall B12 deficiency prevalence of 8.78%. Age-based results show the highest prevalence of B12 deficiency within the 61 to 80 years-old patient group compared with the 21 to 40 years-old and 41 to 60 years-old age groups. Gender-based results show an approximate 2:1 ratio difference when B12-deficient females were compared with B12-deficient males. This study aims to expand epidemiologic knowledge and clinical awareness of cobalamin deficiency to improve patient care and quality of life.