Prevalence and Risk Factors of Vitamin B(12) Deficiency among Pregnant Women in Rural Bangladesh

Vitamin B(12) deficiency is associated with an increased risk of pregnancy complications and adverse birth outcomes. However, data on vitamin B(12) deficiency in pregnant Bangladeshi women are limited. This study examines vitamin B(12) deficiency and marginal deficiency in rural Bangladeshi women during early and late pregnancies. Some 522 women whose gestational age was <20 weeks were recruited. Serum vitamin B(12) concentrations were measured at baseline and after 14 weeks of iron-folate supplementation. Logistic regression analysis examined the association of various socio-demographic, dietary, and pregnancy-related factors with vitamin B(12) deficiency and marginal deficiency. Overall, 19% of the women during early pregnancy had vitamin B(12) deficiency (serum vitamin B(12) concentration < 203 pg/mL) and nearly 40% had marginal deficiency (serum vitamin B(12) concentration 203 to <300 pg/mL). Vitamin B(12) deficiency doubled to 38% during late pregnancy, while marginal deficiency slightly increased to 41.7%. The pregnant women with a gestational age of ≥27 weeks had a higher risk of developing vitamin B(12) deficiency (OR = 2.61; 95% CI = 1.096–6.214) than those of a gestational age of <27 weeks. Vitamin B(12) deficiency was significantly higher in pregnant women in rented accommodation (OR = 13.32; 95% CI = 1.55–114.25) than in those living in their own house. Vitamin B(12) deficiency was significantly higher among women who consumed red or organ meat <3 times a week than in those who consumed it more often (OR = 2.327, 95% CI = 1.194–4.536). None of these factors were significantly associated with marginal vitamin B(12) deficiency. In conclusion, vitamin B(12) deficiency and marginal deficiency among pregnant rural Bangladeshi women increased as their pregnancies progressed. Increasing gestational age, living in a rented house, and the consumption of red or organ meat <3 times a week were identified as the independent risk factors of vitamin B(12) deficiency in this population. Further research with more in-depth assessments of dietary vitamin B(12) intakes is needed to develop an intervention program preventing vitamin B(12) deficiency in this population.