Severe vitamin B12 deficiency in an infant associated with a maternal deficiency and a strict vegetarian diet

The authors present a case of severe megaloblastic anemia and neurologic damage due to vitamin B12 deficiency in a 6-month-old infant. The cause of the vitamin deficiency was a maternal dietary deficiency because of a strict vegetarian diet and prolonged breast-feeding. The importance of early recognition of significant maternal vitamin B12 deficiency during pregnancy and lactation in vegetarians is emphasized so that appropriate supplementation can be given and irreversible neurologic damage in the infant prevented.     

Interrelationship between diarrhea and vitamin A deficiency: is vitamin A deficiency a risk factor for diarrhea?

A cross-sectional study, a follow-up study and an evaluation of impact of community-based distribution of vitamin A capsules (200,000 IU) were conducted in Omdurman (Sudan) between November, 1988, and March, 1989. In the cross-sectional survey 1441 children less than 5 years of age participated, which established the baseline values for plasma retinol-binding protein. During the follow-up period 290 cases of diarrhea occurred. Low concentrations of plasma retinol-binding protein (less than 1.85 mg/dl) proved to be a risk factor for diarrhea, especially in girls. The relative risk increased after the second year of life. Children who received vitamin A supplementation before commencement of the study had a lower incidence of diarrhea. The protective effect of vitamin A supplementation was greater in girls (relative risk, 0.297; 95% confidence interval, 0.240 to 0.368) than in boys (relative risk, 0.404; 95% confidence interval, 0.352 to 0.464).     

Screening tests for vitamin A deficiency

Objective tests for detection of xerophthalmia can solve the diagnostic problems of vitamin A deficiency under field conditions. Reliability of Rose Bengal dye test and Kajal test were tested in rural field practice area of B.J. Medical College, Pune, by finding out their correlation with prevalence of clinically detectable signs of vitamin A deficiency and serum vitamin A levels in 392 primary school children. The combination of these objective tests with clinical diagnosis may improve the detection rate of xerophthalmia.     

Maternal vegan diet causing a serious infantile neurological disorder due to vitamin B12 deficiency

We present a 9-month-old exclusively breastfed baby of a strict vegetarian mother who had excluded all animal proteins from her diet. The patient's symptoms included dystrophy, weakness, muscular atrophy, loss of tendon reflexes, psychomotor regression and haematological abnormalities. Biochemical investigations revealed severe methylmalonic aciduria and homocystinuria in the patient, slight methylmalonic aciduria in the mother and low concentrations of serum vitamin B₁₂ in both patient and mother.Presented in preliminary form at the Annual Meeting of the Swiss Paediatric Society, Geneva, 12–13 June 1987     

A variation of vitamin D deficiency in children

We report three children presenting with hypocalcemia, hyperphosphatemia, elevated levels of parathyroid hormone, low concentrations of 25(OH)-vitamin D, normal to elevated concentrations of 1,25(OH)2-vitamin D, and normal radiographs. Although these findings led to consideration of parathyroid hormone resistance, clinical and biochemical findings remained normal after discontinuation of therapy, suggesting a variation of vitamin D deficiency.     

儿童肥胖与维生素D缺乏

儿童肥胖和维生素D缺乏已成为两大公共卫生问题.近年来大量研究表明肥胖及其相关的代谢性疾病与血清低维生素D水平相关,但维生素D缺乏与肥胖之间的因果关系仍不明确.目前仍没有足够证据证明维生素D补充对改善体重、体块指数及脂肪量有益.肥胖可能导致了低维生素D状态,而维生素D和维生素D受体则可能通过作用于脂肪分化、脂肪细胞凋亡、脂质合成和分解、摄食行为及能量消耗方面影响能量平衡.