Prevalence of Folate and Vitamin B12 Deficiency Aged 1 to 6 Years

Abstract

Abstract:Objective: To describe the distribution of folate and vitamin B12 deficiency in children. Materials and Methods: Folate and vitamin B12 serum concentrations were measured in sample of 1000 children. Adjusted prevalence, mean concentrations and relevant associations were calculated. Results: The overall prevalence of folate and vitamin B12 deficiency were 5.2% and 9.5%, respectively. The highest prevalence of folate was found in the 2-year-old, and of vitamin B12 in the 1 year-old (9.1%) groups. Conclusion: We describe the magnitude of folate and vitamin B12 deficiencies in children. The deficiency of both vitamins in children under 2 years old is a moderate public health problem in Mexico.