Vitamin B12 deficiency is prevalent and associated with serum gastrin in rural Mexican women.

Abstract

Previous research revealed a high prevalence of low serum B12 concentrations in rural Mexican children. This study was designed to assess the prevalence and causes of deficiency, including low B12 intake, gastritis and Helicobacter pylori (HP) in rural Mexican women. Blood was collected from 191 women in rural Queretaro who were not taking B12 supplements and medication for gastritis. Blood samples were analyzed for serum B12 and folate, gastrin, pepsinogen I and HP antibodies. Mean age, weight and height were 36±12 y, 66±15 kg and 1.5±0.6 m. Mean serum vitamin B12 was 210±117 pmol/L, 28% had deficiency (serum B12 <150 pmol/L) and 31% had marginal status (221 pmol/L). Only 1% had low serum folate (<10 nmol/L). Serum B12 was positively correlated with age (r=0.298, P<0.001). Mean gastrin was 52±99 pmol/L and 22% of women had elevated values (>47 pmol/L) indicating gastric inflammation. Moreover, women with B12 deficiency had significantly lower serum gastrin than those with marginal or normal status (P<0.04). Mean serum PGI was 58±33 ug/L and was low (<25 ug/L) in only 9% of subjects indicating that moderated or severe corpus atrophy was uncommon. Most women (70%) tested positive for HP antibodies. HP was associated with lower PGI but not lower serum B12 or elevated gastrin. We conclude that vitamin B12 depletion is very common in these rural Mexican women and associated to gastric inflammation. Funded by UCMEXUS, CONCYTEQ and USDA,WHNRC.