The relationship between serum vitamin B12 level, obesity, and age : a cross-sectional study

الملخص EN

Background: Many studies had evaluated the association between obesity and vitamin B12 deficiency, with most having shown low vitamin B12 levels in obese and overweight people.

Moreover, there is increasing evidence that susceptibility to vitamin B12 deficiency may change depending on gender and throughout life, with older males having the greatest risk.

Obese patients are more prone to insulin resistance (IR); the correlation between low B12 in obese individuals and IR has been evaluated, with conflicting results.

The treatment of obese individuals by bariatric surgery and other options may result in multiple nutritional deficiencies and a low baseline B12 level makes them more vulnerable to B12 deficiency.

Purpose: to investigate the relationship between vitamin B12 deficiency, body mass index and age in Jordanian adult patients.

Methods: A cross-sectional study of patients attending the Internal Medicine Outpatient clinics at Jordanian Royal Medical Services hospitals was conducted from June to December 2018.

Patients living in different regions of Jordan and between the ages of 14 and 90 years were included.

Height (cm), weight (kg) and body mass index (BMI) were recorded.

Result: The study enrolled 301 patients.

The mean age was 52.19 years.

Overall, 70.8% were in the adult group and 27.2% were in the senior adult group.

The mean BMI was 29.41 (SD 5.74) and 36.9% were overweight, 25.2% were class 1 obese, 19.6% were of normal body weight, 11.3% were class 2 obese and 5.3% were class 3 obese.

A significant positive correlation between BMI and age was observed (r=0.233; P<0.001).

The mean B12 level was 278.82pmol/L.

B12 deficiency was observed in 53.8% of patients.

A significant negative correlation between BMI and serum B12 was observed (r =-0.123, P=0.032).

There was no significant difference between males and females with regard to mean B12 level.

A statistically insignificant negative correlation was observed between B12 level and age.

Conclusion: Lower vitamin B12 levels are associated with higher BMIs.

No significant difference between males and females with regard to mean B12 level was reported.

Further studies are recommended to provide more information about B12 deficiency and its association with BMI and other factors.