Vitamin B12 concentrations in the elderly: a regional study

Autor: K E, Barber, M L, Christie, R, Thula, R G, Cutfield
Rok vydání: 1989
Předmět:
Zdroj: The New Zealand medical journal. 102(873)
ISSN: 0028-8446
Popis: A prospective study of 100 subjects over 70 years of age residing in rest homes or geriatric wards within the Auckland region showed that 23% of the population sampled had a serum vitamin B12 concentration below the reference range. Less than half (48%) of the group with a reduced serum vitamin B12 concentration had other haematological findings on initial screening suggestive of megaloblastosis. Comparative data from hospital and community based laboratories demonstrated that 20% and 29% respectively of samples from individuals aged greater than 70 years referred for serum vitamin B12 analysis had a B12 concentration below the reference range. Reduced serum vitamin B12 abnormalities in elderly individuals should not be ignored and some guidelines for investigations with which to establish a diagnosis are presented.
Databáze: OpenAIRE