Vitamin B12 Deficiency in the South of Jordan: A Possible Geographical
Correlation
Abstract
Objectives: Vitamin B12 deficiency has been associated with certain
serious disorders such as megaloblastic anemia as well as
cardiovascular, neurological, and psychological disorders. Vitamin B12
deficiency is a worldwide health concern and a severe health problem in
certain developing countries. In the current study, we aimed to evaluate
the situation of vitamin B12 and estimate the prevalence of vitamin B12
deficiency in southern Jordan. Methods: The study population included
281 participants from Aqaba city: 71.2% females and 28.8% males with a
mean age of 30.01±13.5. Results: The results showed that the average
vitamin B12 level was 277.34±103.70 pg/mL. The study population showed
that 69 (24.6%) participants had a vitamin B12 deficiency. The current
findings showed a lower frequency of vitamin B12 deficiency in the
studied population compared to the rest of Jordan, especially in the
north. The females reported a significantly higher frequency of vitamin
B12 deficiency (29.0%) compared to the male group (13.6%). In
addition, the CBC parameters showed a significant association between
the level of vitamin B12 and Hb, RBC, PCV, and platelet count with a
p-value = 0.044, <0.001, 0.021, 0.025, respectively. On the
other hand, the results showed a lack of association between the vitamin
B12 level and MCV and age group. Conclusion: In conclusion, the current
study supports our previous findings regarding the correlation between
geographical locations and the deficiency of vitamin B12. These findings
can be attributed to the lifestyle and nutrient situation in Aqaba city
which relies more on seafood. Moreover, other factors such as genetic
predisposition can be excluded as an association factor. Therefore, more
studies are required to evaluate vitamin B12 levels in Jordan at a
higher scale that will include genetic analysis as well as food habits.