Liječnički vjesnik, Vol. 133 No. 1-2, 2011.
Review article
VITAMIN B12 DEFICIENCY IN CHILDREN – UNDERESTIMATED DANGER IN THE LIGHT OF NEW KNOWLEDGE
Karin Juras
Ksenija Fumić
Senka Ižaković
Silvija Pušeljić
Vida Čulić
Slobodan Galić
Andrea Dasović Buljević
Vesna Benjak
Ana Čolić
Sanda Huljev Frković
Miljenka Maradin
Vladimir Sarnavka
Karmen Bilić
Matthias Baumgartner
Ivo Barić
Abstract
Vitamin B12 (cobalamin) has two active forms, adenosylcobalamin and methylcobalamin which have a key role in two important metabolic pathways in humans and their deficiency is responsible for clinical problems. Cobalamin is essential during whole life, but its sufficient amount is extra important in fetal and neonatal period, when it is essential for normal child growth and development as well as for normal development of the central nervous system. Because of very complex transport and metabolism, its deficiency can be manifested in numerous congenital and acquired disorders. Vitamin B12 deficiency mostly has non-specific clinical features, it carries a great risk of permanent consequences, but most frequently it is easily curable if diagnosed on time. In Croatia cobalamin deficiency in children has been diagnosed too rarely. Accordingly, the aim of this paper is to point to the recently gained knowledge on cobalamin metabolism, present typical case reports and to provide guidelines for rapid and proper diagnostic and therapeutic approach.
Keywords
Vitamin B12 deficiency – etiology, diagnosis, complications, drug therapy; Vitamin B12 – metabolism; Metabolism, inborn errors – genetics
Hrčak ID:
171646
URI
Publication date:
28.2.2011.
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