TY  - JOUR
U1  - Zeitschriftenartikel, wissenschaftlich - begutachtet (reviewed)
A1  - Wirthensohn, Miriam
A1  - Wehrli, Susanne
A1  - Ljungblad, Ulf Wike
A1  - Huemer, Martina
T1  - Biochemical, nutritional, and clinical parameters of vitamin B12 deficiency in infants
BT  - A systematic review and analysis of 292 cases published between 1962 and 2022
JF  - Nutrients
N2  - Pooled data from published reports on infants with clinically diagnosed vitamin B12 (B12) deficiency were analyzed with the purpose of describing the presentation, diagnostic approaches, and risk factors for the condition to inform prevention strategies. An electronic (PubMed database) and manual literature search following the PRISMA approach was conducted (preregistration with the Open Science Framework, accessed on 15 February 2023). Data were described and analyzed using correlation analyses, Chi-square tests, ANOVAs, and regression analyses, and 102 publications (292 cases) were analyzed. The mean age at first symptoms (anemia, various neurological symptoms) was four months; the mean time to diagnosis was 2.6 months. Maternal B12 at diagnosis, exclusive breastfeeding, and a maternal diet low in B12 predicted infant B12, methylmalonic acid, and total homocysteine. Infant B12 deficiency is still not easily diagnosed. Methylmalonic acid and total homocysteine are useful diagnostic parameters in addition to B12 levels. Since maternal B12 status predicts infant B12 status, it would probably be advantageous to target women in early pregnancy or even preconceptionally to prevent infant B12 deficiency, rather than to rely on newborn screening that often does not reliably identify high-risk children.
KW  - Homocysteine
KW  - methylmalonic acid (MMA)
KW  - newborn screening
KW  - breastfeeding
Y1  - 2023
SN  - 2072-6643
SS  - 2072-6643
U6  - https://doi.org/10.3390/nu15234960
DO  - https://doi.org/10.3390/nu15234960
VL  - 15
SP  - 21
S1  - 21
ER  -