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High prevalence of folic acid and vitamin B12 deficiencies in infants, children, adolescents and pregnant women in Venezuela

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition volume 59, pages 1064–1070 (2005)Cite this article

Abstract

Background:

There is increased worldwide concern about the consequences of folic acid and vitamin B12 deficiencies on health, which include megaloblastic anemia, neural tube defects and cardiovascular disease.

Objective:

This study intended to determine the prevalence of folic acid and vitamin B12 deficiencies in vulnerable groups in labor and poor socioeconomic strata of the Venezuelan population.

Methods:

A total of 5658 serum samples were processed to determine folic acid and vitamin B12 concentrations. The study involved three surveys performed during 2001–2002 and included infants, children, adolescents and pregnant women from labor and poor socioeconomic strata of the population. The method used was a radio immunoassay designed for the simultaneous measurement of serum folic acid and vitamin B12.

Results:

The prevalence of folic acid deficiency was higher than 30% for all groups studied, reaching 81.79% in adolescents. Vitamin B12 deficiency was 11.4% in samples collected nationwide, but there was also a similar prevalence of high serum levels. The prevalence of folic acid and vitamin B12 deficiencies in pregnant women reached 36.32 and 61.34%, respectively.

Conclusion:

This work shows that there is a high prevalence of folic acid deficiency, especially in women of reproductive age, pregnant adolescents and in the whole population studied in Vargas state. This situation requires immediate intervention as supplementation or food fortification programs.

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Acknowledgements

This work was partially supported by the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), Panamerican Health Organization (PAHO) and Roche Laboratories.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Instituto Venezolano de Investigaciones Científicas (IVIC), Carretera Panamericana, Centro de Medicina Experimental, Laboratorio de Fisiopatología, Caracas, Venezuela

    M N García-Casal, C Osorio, I Leets, P Matus & F Fazzino

  2. Fundación Centro de Estudios sobre Crecimiento y Desarrollo de la Población Venezolana (FUNDACREDESA), Caracas, Venezuela

    M Landaeta

  3. Instituto Nacional de Nutrición (INN), Caracas, Venezuela

    E Marcos

Authors
  1. M N García-Casal
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  2. C Osorio
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  3. M Landaeta
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  4. I Leets
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  5. P Matus
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  6. F Fazzino
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  7. E Marcos
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to M N García-Casal.

Additional information

Guarantor: MN García-Casal.

Contributors: MNGC, experiment design, collection of data, analysis of data, writing the manuscript. CO, IL, PM and FF, sample processing, quantification and analysis. ML, field work and sample acquisition. EM, advice and consultation. No conflicts of interest for the authors.

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García-Casal, M., Osorio, C., Landaeta, M. et al. High prevalence of folic acid and vitamin B12 deficiencies in infants, children, adolescents and pregnant women in Venezuela. Eur J Clin Nutr 59, 1064–1070 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ejcn.1602212

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ejcn.1602212

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