ABSTRACT

Background: Folate and vitamin B12 have important role in cognition. There is scarcity of globally established cut-off levels to demarcate deficiency of either vitamin among different age groups.

Aim: To determine age related differences in the levels of serum vitamin B12, red blood cell folate and their association with cognition.

Methods: This cross sectional study was conducted at Baqai Medical University and 240 healthy volunteers (≤ 72 years) living in different areas of Karachi, fulfilling the inclusion-exclusion criteria, were included. The participants were grouped as: children (4-12 years); adults (13-55 years); elderly (56-72 years).

Results: The mean serum vitamin B12 and red blood cell folate levels for 4-12 years, 13-55 years, 56-72 years groups were 220.11±42.02pg/mL, 298.69±68.13pg/mL, and 197.33±11.65 pg/ml; 537.68±64.96ng/mL, 542.38±49.58ng/mL, and 536.44±52.05ng/mL, respectively. A significant strong positive correlation existed between serum vitamin B12 levels and mini mental state examination scores (r = 0.770, p<.001). MMSE scores were significantly negatively correlated with age (r = -.717, p<.001). A significant strong positive correlation between modified child MMSE scores and age was observed (r = 0.784, p<.001). Percent deficiency values of vitamin B12 was 41.3%, while 42.5% study population had marginal levels.

Conclusion: Increased prevalence of vitamin B12 deficiency and marginal status is a serious health issue. These findings should support dietary recommendations to enhance vitamin B12 status and to improve cognition, especially for children and elderly individuals. Vitamin B12 levels should be assessed in work up of cognitive decline and dementia.

Keywords: RBC folate, serum vitamin B12, cognition, different age groups