BRAIN DAMAGE IN INFANCY AND DIETARY VITAMIN B<sub>12</sub>DEFICIENCY

Wighton, M C; Manson, J. I.; Speed, I; Robertson, Evelyn F.; Chapman, Earle M.

doi:10.5694/j.1326-5377.1979.tb112643.x

Cited by 60 publications

(38 citation statements)

References 18 publications

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“…Examination reveals pallor, hypotonia, and brisk reflexes. The infant may be severely obtunded (9,10,12), responding only to painful stimuli. Macrocytosis is consistently found on blood films, but anemia is not always present.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…megaloblastic anemia (and presumably cobalamin deficiency) had previously been described in Europe -Gerbasi's syndrome (8). Subsequently, there have been a relatively small number of reports of nutritional cobalamin deficiency in children from developed countries (9)(10)(11)(12)(13)(14). We report three infants who had cobalamin deficiency and who presented with developmental regression and had involuntary movements.…”

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confidence: 99%

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The neurological syndrome of infantile cobalamin deficiency: Developmental regression and involuntary movements

Grattan-Smith

Wilcken²,

et al. 1997

Movement Disorders

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Developmental regression is the presenting symptom of most infants with cobalamin (Vitamin B12) deficiency. We present a report of three infants with cobalamin deficiency in which the infants also developed a movement disorder. In each case the mother was a vegetarian and the infant was exclusively breast-fed. In two of the infants, a striking movement disorder consisting of a combination of tremor and myoclonus particularly involving face, tongue, and pharynx appeared 48 h after the initiation of treatment with intramuscular cobalamin. This was associated with marked changes in plasma amino acid levels. Paradoxically, the onset of the movement disorder coincided with overall neurological improvement. The third infant had a persistent focal tremor, which appeared before the commencement of treatment. The movements slowly abated during a 3-6 week period. The presence of a movement disorder in cobalamin deficiency has received less attention than other features, but in a mild form is probably common. It may offer an early clue to the diagnosis before the onset of profound neurological deterioration. The cause of the severe movement disorder that can appear after treatment is not known.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

The neurological syndrome of infantile cobalamin deficiency: Developmental regression and involuntary movements

Grattan-Smith

Wilcken²,

et al. 1997

Movement Disorders

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“…As an example a breast‐fed child of a vegetarian mother displayed “neurological deterioration that commenced between 3 and 6 months of age, and progressed to a comatose premoribund state by the age of 9 months” 58. The infant had megaloblastic anaemia and a severe vitamin B 12 deficiency.…”

Section: Nutritional Influences On Brain Developmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

The influence of dietary status on the cognitive performance of children

Benton

2010

Molecular Nutrition Food Res

149

128

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The rapid rate of growth of the brain during the last third of gestation and the early postnatal stage makes it vulnerable to an inadequate diet, although brain development continues into adulthood and micronutrient status can influence functioning beyond infancy. Certain dietary deficiencies during the first 2 years of life, for example iodine and iron, create problems that are not reversed by a later adequate diet. It is important that the intake of micronutrients varies greatly between individuals as they are essential for metabolism in general and in particular cell division and hence growth. In developing countries, there is consistent evidence that the adequacy of diet has lasting implications for cognitive development. In particular, attention has been directed to protein-calorie malnutrition and more specifically the intake of iron, iodine and vitamin A, a deficiency of which damages eyesight. In industrialized countries variations in diet are less influential, although a few well-designed studies have reported that multivitamin and mineral supplementations influence anti-social behaviour and intelligence. In the short term, there is increasing evidence that the missing of breakfast has negative consequences late in the morning. A working hypothesis is that meals of a low rather than high glycaemic load are beneficial.

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“…Although vitamin B-12 supplements were reported to result in rapid improvement,8 9 concern has been raised regarding long term development 36 7 10 We report a case of a 14 month old boy in whom severe dietary vitamin B-12 deficiency caused persistent neurological damage.…”

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confidence: 93%

Persistence of neurological damage induced by dietary vitamin B-12 deficiency in infancy

Schenck

Bender‐Götze

Koletzko

1997

Archives of Disease in Childhood

164

137

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A case is reported of a 14 month old boy with severe dietary vitamin B-12 deficiency caused by his mother's vegan diet. Cinical, electroencephalography (EEG), and haematological findings are described. Cranial magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed severe frontal and frontoparietal cranial atrophy. Vitamin B-12 supplements led to a rapid improvement of haematological and neurological symptoms. Serum vitamin B-12 and urinary methylmalonate excretion were normal 10 days after treatment began. After six weeks, EEG was normal and cranial MRI after 10 weeks showed complete disappearance of all structural abnormalities. Cognitive and language development, however, remained seriously retarded at the age of 2 years. It is concluded that infantile vitamin B-12 deficiency induced by maternal vegan diets may cause lasting neurodisability even though vitamin B-12 supplementation leads to rapid resolution of cerebral atrophy and electroencephalographic abnormality.

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BRAIN DAMAGE IN INFANCY AND DIETARY VITAMIN B₁₂DEFICIENCY

Cited by 60 publications

References 18 publications

The neurological syndrome of infantile cobalamin deficiency: Developmental regression and involuntary movements

The neurological syndrome of infantile cobalamin deficiency: Developmental regression and involuntary movements

The influence of dietary status on the cognitive performance of children

Persistence of neurological damage induced by dietary vitamin B-12 deficiency in infancy

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BRAIN DAMAGE IN INFANCY AND DIETARY VITAMIN B12DEFICIENCY

Cited by 60 publications

References 18 publications

The neurological syndrome of infantile cobalamin deficiency: Developmental regression and involuntary movements

The neurological syndrome of infantile cobalamin deficiency: Developmental regression and involuntary movements

The influence of dietary status on the cognitive performance of children

Persistence of neurological damage induced by dietary vitamin B-12 deficiency in infancy

Contact Info

Product

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BRAIN DAMAGE IN INFANCY AND DIETARY VITAMIN B₁₂DEFICIENCY