Comparison Of Vitamin B12 Level Among Vegetarian And Non Vegetarian Apparently Healthy Individuals In District Tharparkar

Abstract

Objective: Subjects adopting a vegetarian diet are liable to vitamin B12 deficiency. The current work was undertaken to investigate vitamin B12 status in apparently healthy vegetarians in Mithi, district Tharparkar, Sindh. Subjects and methods: This cross sectional study was conducted in the department of Biochemistry, BMSI, JPMC Karachi and blood samples were collected from Mithi district Tharparkar, Sindh, during the period of Febuary 2012 to June 2012. One hundred vegetarian (74 males and 26 females) and one hundred non- vegetarians (72 males and 28 females), age ranging from 20-40 years were enrolled for this study. Hemogloblin concentration, means corpuscular volume and serum vitamin B12 levels were measured, using conventional methods. Results: Mean serum vitamin B12 level and mean hemoglobin concentration were significantly lower (p<0.001) while mean corpuscular volume (MCV) was significantly higher (p<0.001) in vegetarian as compared to non-vegetarian. In vegetarian group 51(51%) subjects had vitamin B12 level less than cut off value (200 pg/ml), in this group, 38 out of 74 (51.3%) and 13 out of 26 (50%) were males and females respectively. In non vegetarian group 21(21%) subjects had vitamin B12 deficiency and 09 out of 72 (12.5%) and 12 out of 28(43%) were males and females respectively. Conclusion: Vegetarians seems to be more prone to develop vitamin B12 deficiency so they should take vitamin B12 supplement and/or B-12 fortified products to avoid its deficiency consequences.