Vitamin B12 deficiency among Newly-Arrived Syrian Refugees in Central Anatolia of Turkey
Abstract
Purpose: Vitamin B12 (cobalamin) has the most complex chemical structure of all vitamins and it
is obtained naturally only from products of animal origin in developing countries. Vitamin B12
deficiency is prevalent in countries of origin of refugees. The aim of this study was to determine
the prevalence of vitamin B12 deficiency among newly-arrived Syrian refugees in Central
Anatolia of Turkey.
Journal of Anatolian Medical Research 2017; 2(1): 22-30
Orjinal
Araştırma
23
Methods: Newly arrived 256 refugees aged ≥ 16 years were tested for vitamin B12 level and
other hematological parameters.
Results: We found that 50 participants (19.5%) had vitamin B12 deficiency (≤ 150 pmol/L). Low
levels of vitamin B12 were prevalent among males those over the age of 50 (44.4%) (p=0.01) and
females those under the age of 50 (75%) (p<0.001).
Conclusion: The results of this study shown that, the prevalence of vitamin B12 deficiency was
higher in Syrian refugees, especially in older men and younger women. To our knowledge, this is
the first nationally representative study for Central Anatolia of Turkey about vitamin B12
deficiency in refugees.
Keywords
References
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Details
Primary Language
English
Subjects
Health Care Administration
Journal Section
Research Article
Authors
Muzaffer Keklik
This is me
Türkiye
Uğur Kalan
This is me
Serdal Korkmaz
This is me
Özerhan Özer
This is me
Pınar İpek
This is me
Adile Ortaköylüoğlu
This is me
Ertuğrul Keklik
This is me
Publication Date
May 22, 2017
Submission Date
May 22, 2017
Acceptance Date
-
Published in Issue
Year 2017 Volume: 2 Number: 1