Vitamin B12 deficiency in infants can cause many problems, says a new study A team from the University of Copenhagen and Doctors Without Borders conducted the study among 1,000 severely malnourished children aged 6-23 months in Burkina Faso, Africa.Also read – Weight loss for women: Women, this diet does not work for you. Stop following them blindly!
Vitamin B12 deficiency in infants leads to impaired motor development and anemia, according to one study, which stated that its deficiency is a huge but overlooked problem. Also read – World Asthma Day 2022: Early signs and symptoms you should be aware of
For many years, there has been a worldwide focus on vitamin A, zinc and iron deficiency when it comes to malnutrition, while there is a lack of research on B12 deficiency. Also read – Skincare Tips: Want To Get Rid Of Sun Tanning Naturally? Try This Home Remedy | Watch the video
Vitamin B12 deficiency not only leads to anemia, it can damage the nervous system. And for young children, B12 is critical to brain development.
“B12 deficiency is one of the most overlooked problems when it comes to malnutrition. And unfortunately, we can see that the diet we offer today is not based on work, “said Henrik Fries, the study’s first author and professor of nutrition, exercise and sports at the University of Copenhagen.
The results, published in the journal PLOS Medicine, show a strong link between vitamin B12 deficiency and impaired motor development and anemia.
Children’s B12 levels were measured both before and after three months of the daily diet relief ration containing the recommended B12 content. During the period when children were given diet relief, their B12 levels increased, once the program was closed it dropped significantly.
Even after three months of diet relief, one-third of children continue to store low or marginal levels of B12. The unfortunate explanation is that there is a limit to how much B12 can be absorbed.
“A baby’s gut can absorb only 1 microgram of B12 per meal. Therefore, if a child is deficient in 500 micrograms, it may take longer than a few weeks to receive emergency food relief, ”explained Vibek Brix Christensen, a pediatrician and medical adviser to Doctors Without Borders.
She points out that dividing the required amount of vitamin B12 into different foods may make a difference, which will probably allow children to absorb the same amount of B12 each time.
(With input by IANS)
