Predictors of cobalamin deficiency in Guatemalan school children: diet, Helicobacter pylori, or bacterial overgrowth?

摘要: Objectives: The authors investigated whether low vitamin B 12 intake, impaired gastric function, Helicobacter pylori infection, and bacterial overgrowth were risk factors for the high prevalence of cobalamin deficiency observed in Guatemalan children. Methods: plasma concentration 556 school children was measured classified as low, marginal, or adequate. In 60 from each these three groups, concentrations serum methylmalonic acid (MMA), homocysteine, holotranscobalamin II measured, usual dietary intake estimated. Serum gastrin pepsinogen I H. diagnosed using 13 C-urea C-xylose breath tests, respectively. Results: infection present 83% (144 174) children, found 25% (28 113). Children with had higher I. There no significant differences among groups overgrowth, gastrin, concentrations. However, there a positive correlation between MMA average daily consumption 5.5 ± 5.2 μg/day, but intakes 23% <1.8 μg/day. fortified snacks added an additional 0.3 0.2 not significantly different it correlated cobalamin. Conclusions: specific cause this population remains unclear, results suggest that is factor alterations secretions may also play role.