Vitamin B12 Deficiency

Vitamin B₁₂ Deficiency

Name

Institution

Vitamin B₁₂ Deficiency

Various tests can be carried out in the case of vitamin B₁₂. These laboratory tests are used to determine the presence of Vitamin B12 deficiency, its severity and in assessing treatment effectiveness. Vitamin B₁₂ is essential for various processes in the body. Such include synthesis of neurotransmitters and deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) (Lee, 2009). Moreover, vitamin B₁₂  helps in the metabolism of homocysteine. Vitamin B₁₂ deficiency is hence associated with various symptoms in various organs and body systems. This association of vitamin B12 with various symptoms necessitates determining various aspects relating to vitamin B₁₂ mentioned above.

One of the laboratory tests is the Vitamin B₁₂ Assay that gives an indication of the amount of serum vitamin B₁₂ level. This test is used for preliminary confirmation of the presence of vitamin B₁₂ deficiency. Stabler(2013) explains that serum level of vitamin B₁₂ that is <100 pg per milliliter indicates vitamin B12 deficiency. However, this test does not have a high sensitivity level due to the high rate of false negatives and false positives.

Klimis-Zacas and Wolinsky (2003) accounts for the use of urinary or serum methylmalonic acid (MMA). This test is specific to vitamin B₁₂ deficiency. Elevated urinary or serum MMA levels indicate the presence of vitamin B₁₂ deficiency. Another similar test to MMA test is the homocysteine test in which individuals with vitamin B₁₂ deficiency have a high level of total homocysteine (Stabler, 2013). FIGLU test may also be used. This test is used to assess levels of serum homocysteine and formiminoglutamic acid in urinary excretion. A replacement absorption test is under development. If the test is viable, it will allow measuring of saturation of holotranscobalamin by vitamin B₁₂. This replacement absorption test aims to replace the phased out scilling test.

References

Klimis-Zacas, D., & Wolinsky, I. (Eds.). (2003). Nutritional concerns of women. CRC Press.

Lee, M. (Ed.). (2009). Basic skills in interpreting laboratory data. ASHP.

Stabler, S. P. (2013). Vitamin B12 deficiency. New England Journal of Medicine, 368(2), 149-160.