The frequency of vitamin B12, iron, and folic acid deficiency in the neonatal period and infancy, and the relationship with maternal levels

AIM: The most important function of vitamin B12 is to accomplish DNA synthesis, which is necessary for cell division and proliferation. Deficiency of vitamin B12 causes megaloblastic anemia, retardation of growth, and delay in neuromotor maturation. Newborns whose mothers have vitamin B12 deficiency are born with low vitamin B12 storages, and are at risk in terms of vitamin B12 deficiency symptoms during infancy. The aim of our study was to investigate the frequency of anemia and deficiency of vitamin B12, folic acid, and iron in pregnant women living in our region, in their newborn babies, and during the infancy period of these babies. Another aim of our study was to investigate the correlation between the levels of these vitamins in newborns and in their mothers. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In our study, 250 pregnant women at 38–42 gestational weeks, who were admitted for delivery to Gynecology and Obstetrics Clinic and their babies with a birth weight over 2500 g were included in the study. RESULTS: We determined that 24.8% of the pregnant women had anemia, 28% had low ferritin levels, 90.4% had vitamin B 12 deficiency, and 22.4% had folic acid deficiency. Some 3.2% of the newborns had anemia, 2.8% had low ferritin levels, and 72.4% had vitamin B12 deficiency. Among the infants who presented for a follow-up visit at 6 months of age, 22.3% had anemia, 14.9% had low ferritin levels, 40.4% had vitamin B12 deficiency, and 1.06% had folic acid deficiency. In addition, we found that the levels of vitamin B12 and folic acid in newborns were related to the levels of vitamin B12 and folic acid in their mothers. CONCLUSION: Development of low vitamin B12 stores in newborns and the development of vitamin B12 deficiency during infancy, which may result in irreversible complications including neurologic complications, can be prevented by preventing vitamin B12 deficiency during pregnancy.