Overweight and obese adolescents: A risk group for vitamin B12 deficiency and anemia?

Abstract

Background/Aim: Obesity is a major clinical and public health problem for adolescents. It leads to various nutritional problems as well as adult diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular diseases, and diabetes. Some studies have found that dietary intakes of some micronutrients were inadequate among adolescents. The aim of this study was to investigate anemia and vitamin B12 deficiency in obese children and adolescents and to determine whether obesity has a role in vitamin B12 deficiency. Additionally, we aimed to assess ferritin levels and their relationship with body mass index in obese children and adolescents. Methods: This retrospective cross-sectional study group consisted of 1574 patients between 10 and 18 years old who were admitted to the pediatrics department of the hospital, some for a weight problem and some, who constitute a control group, for other issues. Those excluded included patients with missing data, those with co-morbidities situations, patients taking vitamin supplements, children whose obesity was the result of a syndromic condition, and those whose obesity had endocrinal causes. Finally, 436 patients remained in the study. Vitamin B12 deficiency was defined as a serum level <200 ng/L. We defined anemia as a hemoglobin concentration under 12.5g/dl in males or 12g/dl in females according to depleted iron store, which is defined as a plasma ferritin level <12ug/L. Results: 252 (57.8%) of 436 patients were normal weight, 51 (11.7%) were overweight, and 133 (30.5%) were obese. The overweight/obesity group had a significantly higher level of plasma ferritin compared to the normal group. No relationship was found between weight and anemia (P=0.95). Vitamin B12 levels negatively correlated with increasing age (P<0.001, Spearman’s rho = -0,185). Obese and overweight adolescents had lower vitamin B12 concentrations than normal weight adolescents (P=0.01). Conclusion: Serum ferritin concentrations are higher in obese and overweight adolescents than in those with normal weight. Obese and overweight adolescents are at high risk for low serum vitamin B12 concentrations, but not for anemia.

Keywords

• Vitamin B12
• Obesity
• Adolescent
• Anemia
• Ferritin

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