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Prevalence and Indicators of Vitamin B12 Insufficiency among Young Women of Childbearing Age

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  • Sara Al-Musharaf

    (Department of Community Health Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
    Chair for Biomarkers of Chronic Diseases, Riyadh Biochemistry Department, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia)

  • Philip G. McTernan

    (Department of Biosciences, School of Science and Technology, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham NG1 8NS, UK)

  • Syed Danish Hussain

    (Chair for Biomarkers of Chronic Diseases, Riyadh Biochemistry Department, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia)

  • Khalid Abdullah Aleisa

    (College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia)

  • Abdullah M. Alnaami

    (Chair for Biomarkers of Chronic Diseases, Riyadh Biochemistry Department, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia)

  • Kaiser Wani

    (Chair for Biomarkers of Chronic Diseases, Riyadh Biochemistry Department, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia)

  • Ponnusamy Saravanan

    (Population, Evidence & Technologies, Division of Health Sciences, Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, Coventry CV2 2DX, UK
    Academic Department of Diabetes, Endocrinology & Metabolism, George Eliot Hospital, Nuneaton CV10 7DJ, UK)

  • Nasser Al-Daghri

    (Chair for Biomarkers of Chronic Diseases, Riyadh Biochemistry Department, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia)

Abstract

Vitamin B12 insufficiency is a global health issue among women of childbearing age, yet few studies have investigated its prevalence and risk factors among healthy Middle Eastern populations. This cross-sectional study included 346 Saudi women aged 19–30 years and enrolled at King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. A series of questionnaires were administered to record the study participants’ sociodemographic status, medical history, dietary intake, and physical activity. Participants’ anthropometric data were also recorded and their fasting blood samples were analyzed. The rate of vitamin B12 insufficiency (≤220 pmol/L) was approximately 6% among the study participants. After adjusting for confounding factors, it was observed that the risk factors for vitamin B12 insufficiency included daily sitting time ≥ 7 h, low income (<10,000 Saudi riyal) and increasing age. The recommended dietary allowance of vitamin B12 (>2.4 mcg/day) has been shown to confer reasonable protection against vitamin B12 insufficiency. These study findings highlight that a combination of increased physical activity and dietary vitamin B12 intake above the current recommended dietary allowance may help improve the serum vitamin B12 levels of young women of childbearing age, especially those with a low socioeconomic status. Timely detection and protection against vitamin B12 insufficiency in this subpopulation are important to prevent maternal and fetal health risks.

Suggested Citation

  • Sara Al-Musharaf & Philip G. McTernan & Syed Danish Hussain & Khalid Abdullah Aleisa & Abdullah M. Alnaami & Kaiser Wani & Ponnusamy Saravanan & Nasser Al-Daghri, 2020. "Prevalence and Indicators of Vitamin B12 Insufficiency among Young Women of Childbearing Age," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(1), pages 1-13, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2020:i:1:p:1-:d:466131
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Bridget Ann Knight & Beverley M Shields & Adam Brook & Anita Hill & Dattatray S Bhat & Andrew T Hattersley & Chittaranjan S Yajnik, 2015. "Lower Circulating B12 Is Associated with Higher Obesity and Insulin Resistance during Pregnancy in a Non-Diabetic White British Population," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 10(8), pages 1-10, August.
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      Keywords

      women; sedentary; physical activity; vitamin B12 insufficiency; vitamin B12;
      All these keywords.

      JEL classification:

      • B12 - Schools of Economic Thought and Methodology - - History of Economic Thought through 1925 - - - Classical (includes Adam Smith)
      • B12 - Schools of Economic Thought and Methodology - - History of Economic Thought through 1925 - - - Classical (includes Adam Smith)

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