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Low serum levels of vitamin B12 in older adults with normal nutritional status by mini nutritional assessment

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition volume 70, pages 859–862 (2016)Cite this article

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Abstract

Undernutrition as well as low levels of vitamin B12 and folic acid are common problems among older adults. However, recommended routine nutritional status assessment tools may result in inadequate vitamin serum levels to go unnoticed. Therefore, the aim of this study is to evaluate the inadequacy of serum levels of vitamin B12 and folic acid within Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA) classification categories among older adults. A cross-sectional study was conducted with 97 older adults residing in care homes in Portugal. Undernutrition was identified through the MNA, and serum levels of vitamin B12 and folic acid were measured using chemiluminescence. Cognitive function, depressive symptoms and functional characteristics were also assessed using the Abbreviated Mental Test Score, the Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale and the Barthel Index, respectively. The mean age of older adults was 82.2 (6.3) years; 3.1% were undernourished and 26.8% were at undernutrition risk. In the MNA normal nutritional status group, 11.8% presented vitamin B12 deficiency (<200 pg/ml), 32.4% had low serum levels (200–400 pg/ml) and 4.4% had folic acid deficiency (<3 ng/ml). A high proportion of older adults with low serum levels of vitamin B12 presenting normal nutritional status by MNA was identified. This finding emphasizes the need to evaluate serum vitamin B12 levels, independently of the MNA results.

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Acknowledgements

We acknowledge iBeSa (Instituto de Bebidas e Saúde) for the financial support for serum vitamin B12 and folic acid evaluation. This sponsor had no involvement in the study design, in the collection, analysis or interpretation of data, in the writing of the manuscript and in the decision to submit the manuscript for publication.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Nutrition and Food Science of Porto University, Porto, Portugal

    D A Araújo, M B Noronha, N A Cunha, A N Rocha & T F Amaral

  2. Lar Mãe de Jesus, Matosinhos, Portugal

    S F Abrunhosa

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  1. D A Araújo
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  2. M B Noronha
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  3. N A Cunha
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  4. S F Abrunhosa
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  5. A N Rocha
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  6. T F Amaral
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Correspondence to D A Araújo.

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Araújo, D., Noronha, M., Cunha, N. et al. Low serum levels of vitamin B12 in older adults with normal nutritional status by mini nutritional assessment. Eur J Clin Nutr 70, 859–862 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1038/ejcn.2016.33

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/ejcn.2016.33

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