Vitamin B12 deficiency among Newly-Arrived Syrian Refugees in Central Anatolia of Turkey

Year 2017, Volume: 2 Issue: 1, 22 - 30, 22.05.2017

Muzaffer Keklik Uğur Kalan Serdal Korkmaz Özerhan Özer Pınar İpek Adile Ortaköylüoğlu Ertuğrul Keklik

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

refugee, vit B12 deficiency

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