Çocuk Sağlığı ve Hastalıkları Dergisi 2005 , Vol 48 , Num 4
The frequency of vitamin B12 and folic acid deficiency in children 9-12 years of age in the Şanlıurfa region and their relation with intestinal helminths.
Ahmet Koç1, Abdurrahim Koçyiğit2, Mustafa Ulukanlıgil3, Nihat Demir4
1Harran Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi, Pediatri Doçenti
2Harran Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi, Klinik Biyokimya Doçenti
3Harran Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi, Klinik Mikrobiyoloji ve Parazitoloji Yardımcı Doçenti
4Harran Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi, Pediatri Araştırma Görevlisi
Koç A, Koçyiğit A, Ulukanlıgil M, Demir N. (Department of Pediatrics, Harran University Faculty of Medicine, Şanlıurfa, Turkey). The frequency of vitamin B12 and folic acid deficiency in children 9-12 years of age in the Şanlıurfa region and their relation with intestinal helminths. Çocuk Sağlığı ve Hastalıkları Dergisi 2005; 48: 308-315.

We investigated the frequency of vitamin B12 and folic acid deficiency and their relation with intestinal helminthic infections, which are frequently shown in this region, in 203 children 9-12 years old and enrolled in three different primary schools in Şanlıurfa city center. Stool investigations were done using Kato-Katz method, complete blood counts with an automated cell counter, and serum vitamin B12 and folic acid levels were measured by electrochemiluminiscence method. Anemia was present in 4.9% of children and vitamin B12 deficiency in 10.8%, while folic acid deficiency was not found in any. The ova of intestinal helminths were found in 114 (57.3%) of 199 children whose stools were examined, and multiparasitism was seen in 41 children. Vitamin B12 deficiency was found in 16.7% of children with helminthic infections and in 3.5%of children without them (χ2=7.880, p=0.005). Mean serum vitamin B12 level was significantly lower in children who had helminths than in those who did not (t=3.338, p=0.001). The lowest vitamin B12 levels were seen in children who had Hymenolepis nana and co-parasitism of Ascaris lumbricoides with Trichuris trichiura and Trichuris trichiura with Hymenolepis nana. Mean folic acid level was also statistically lower in children who had intestinal helminthes (t=2.502, p=0.013). These results shows that intestinal helminthic infections can affect the absorption of vitamin B12 in food, and can cause deficiency of this vitamin in childhood. Anahtar Kelimeler : B12 vitamini, folik asit, bağırsak solucanları, vitamin B12, folic acid, intestinal helminths

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