The Effect of Vitamin B12 Deficiency in Infant
Vitamin B12 that also called cobalamin is an essential coenzyme for nucleic acid synthesis, and the animal protein is the major dietary source of vitamin B12.1 Vitamin B12 deficiency is a vital and an accepted cause of neurological morbidity in infants also lead to megaloblastic anemia . There are many causes of infantile vitamin B12 deficiency are heterogeneous, include from dietary deficiency in a breast feeding mother to specific inborn errors of metabolism.1 A deficiency of vitamin B12 impairs DNA synthesis in any cell in which chromosomal replication and division are taking place. An early sign of deficiency of these vitamins is megaloblastic anemia.2 The main storage site for vitamin B12 is the liver.2 Deficiencies in vitamin B12 can occur due to the lack of intrinsic factor (pernicious anemia), malabsorption of vitamin B12, deficiencies in the diet, or metabolism of vitamin B12 by intestinal parasites. The clinical presentation of vitamin B12 deficiency is typically a megaloblastic anemia.1 The diagnosis of vitamin B12 deficiency is confirmed by a low plasma concentration of this vitamin. Prompt replacement of vitamin B12 is indicated in patients who are found to be deficient
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Cobalamin or Vitamin B12 is essential for nucleic acid synthesis, which has many sources but the most important source is the animal protein, that it has many effect in nervous system maturation that their deficiency ,which has various causes include: dietary insufficiency which is a rare cause, decreased production of intrinsic factors, gastrectomy, H.pylori infection, will lead to serious complications such as neuro-developmental, so to prevent these complication sufficient amount of vitamin B-12 must be given as soon as possible.This report discuss different studies about Vitamin B12 deficiency and its aim is the review of the effects of vitamin B12 in neonates and young infants.
