Journal List > J Nutr Health > v.46(3) > 1081293

Kwak, Cho, and Yon: Comparison of anthropometric data and clinical health indicators according to the serum vitamin B12 status in female older adults living in a rural area of Jeonla province, Korea*

Abstract

Subclinical vitamin B12 deficiency is common in the elderly worldwide. We investigated the change of serum vitamin B12 concentration with aging and compared anthropometric data and clinical health indicators between normal (≥ 340 pg/mL) and low (< 340 pg/mL) serum vitamin B12 groups in 470 Korean women aged 65 years and over living in a rural area. Serum vitamin B12 concentration showed inverse correlation with age (r = −0.0992, p < 0.05). The normal B12 group showed significantly (p < 0.05) higher red blood cell count, hemoglobin, and hematocrit compared to the low B12 group, however, no difference in mean corpuscular volume was observed between the two groups. The normal B12 group showed significantly lower serum homocysteine concentration (p < 0.01) and prevalence of vitamin D (p < 0.01) or folate deficiency (p < 0.001). Bone mineral density (T-score) was significantly higher (p < 0.05) in the normal B12 group, compared with that in the low B12 group, and showed positive correlation (r = 0.1490, p < 0.01) with serum vitamin B12 concentration after adjusting for age, body weight, and body mass index. No differences in anthropometric data, physical activity, and smoking and drinking habits were observed between the two groups. In conclusion, it could be suggested that older female adults with normal serum vitamin B12 level would be less anemic and osteoporotic and more resistant to hyperhomocysteinemia associated chronic diseases than those with low serum vitamin B12 level. (J Nutr Health 2013; 46(3): 239 – 249)

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Table 1.
Change of average serum vitamin B12 concentration with aging
Age (yr) Serum B12 (pg/mL)
65–69 (n = 109) 746.5 ± 26.61)
70–74 (n = 168) 710.2 ± 232.1
75–79 (n = 101) 690.0 ± 225.6
80 + (n = 92) 674.7 ± 208.0
Total (n = 470) 707.3 ± 225.6
Significance NS 2)

1) Mean ± SD

2) not significant at p < 0.05 determined by ANO-VA/duncan multiple test

Table 2.
General characteristics according to the vitamin B12 status
  Normal (n = 440) Low (n = 26) Significance
Age (yr) 74.3 ± 5.81) (60–95)2) 74.6 ± 4.9 (67–86) NS 3)
Education (yr) 01.8 ± 2.4 (0–12) 01.9 ± 2.6 (0–6) NS
Children (person) 04.9 ± 1.6 05.0 ± 1.5 NS
Living arrangement      
 Alone 217 (47.4) 13 (50.0)  
 With only spouse 173 (37.7) 11 (42.3) χ2 = 1.4823
 With children ± spouse 026 (05.7) 00 (00.0) NS
 Others 042 (09.2) 02 (07.7)  
Economic status      
 High 014 (03.2) 00 (00.0)  
 Upper middle 107 (23.4) 08 (30.8) χ2 = 1.4963
 Lower middle 212 (48.3) 11 (42.3) NS
 Low 106 (24.1) 07 (26.9)  

1) Mean ± SD

2) range (min-max)

3) not significant at p < 0.05 determined by t-test or χ2-test

Table 3.
Health related lifestyle and prevalence of self-reported chronic diseases according to the vitamin B12 status
  Normal (n = 440) Low (n = 26) Significance
Self-assessed health status      
 Healthy 142 (32.3)1) 03 (11.5) χ2 = 6.7913
 Moderate 059 (13.4) 07 (26.9) p < 0.05
 Bad 239 (54.3) 16 (61.6)  
Supplementation or functional food intake within last 6 months      
 Yes 157 (36.0) 12 (46.1) χ2) = 1.1088
 No 279 (64.0) 14 (53.9) NS2)
Physical activity (hr/day)      
 < 2 162 (36.8) 09 (34.6) χ2 = 0.1336
 2–3 042 (09.5) 03 (11.5) NS
 > 3 236 (53.6) 14 (53.9)  
Medication (subscripted)      
 0 084 (19.3) 04 (16.0) χ2 = 0.3302
 1–2 254 (58.2) 16 (64.0) NS
 ≥ 3 098 (22.5) 05 (20.0)  
Smoking      
 Currently yes 017 (03.9) 02 (07.7) χ2 = 3.9480
 Smoked, but currently no 019 (04.3) 03 (11.5) NS
 Never 403 (91.8) 21 (80.8)  
Drinking (time/month) 0.68 ± 1.60 0.74 ± 1.66 NS
 0 217 (66.2) 14 (63.6)  
 0 < and ≤ 1 062 (18.9) 04 (18.2) χ2 = 0.2147
 1 < and ≤ 3 027 (08.2) 02 (09.1) NS
 > 3 022 (06.7) 02 (09.1)  
No. of chronic disease 2.01 ± 1.253) 2.07 ± 1.05 NS
Prevalence of chronic diseases (%)      
 Diabetes 09.1 00.0 χ2 = 2.5920, NS
 Hypertention 42.4 38.5 χ2 = 0.1537, NS
 Bone & Joint disease 38.9 42.3 χ2 = 0.1160, NS
 Heart disease 10.3 11.5 χ2 = 0.0440, NS
 Kidney disease 01.4 00.0 χ2 = 0.3600, NS
 Digestive disease 11.4 19.2 χ2 = 1.4472, NS
 Hyperlipidemia 03.0 03.8 χ2 = 0.0658, NS

1) n (%)

2) not significant at p < 0.05 determined by t-test or χ2-test

3) Mean ± SD

Table 4.
Anthropometric data and bone mineral density according to the vitamin B12 status
  Normal (n = 440) Low (n = 26) Significance
Hight (cm) 147.4 ± 5.91) 148.9 ± 6.50 NS 2)
Weight (kg) 051.3 ± 8.6 52.7 ± 8.70 NS
BMI (kg/m 2) 023.5 ± 3.2 23.7 ± 3.40 NS
 Low weight < 18.5 026 (05.9)3) 02 (07.7)  
 Normal 18.5 ≤ and < 23.0 173 (39.3) 07 (26.9) χ2 = 1.8074
 Overweight 23.0 ≤ and < 25.0 101 (23.0) 08 (30.8) NS
 Obese 25.0 ≤ 140 (31.8) 09 (34.6)  
Body fat (%) 35.2 ± 3.90 35.5 ± 4.00 NS
Body muscle (%) 21.4 ± 2.30 21.7 ± 2.00 NS
WHR 4) (%) 91.3 ± 6.60 90.9 ± 7.10 NS
 Obese ≥ 85 374 (85.2) 20 (80.0) χ2 = 0.4980
 Normal < 85 065 (14.8) 05 (20.0) NS
Arm cir (cm) 26.7 ± 3.30 26.7 ± 3.50 NS
Tibia cir (cm) 31.4 ± 3.00 31.3 ± 2.40 NS
BMD5) (T-score) –2.54 ± 1.13 –2.91 ± 0.74 p < 0.05
 Normal ≥ −1.0 041 (09.3) 00 (00.0)  
 Osteopenia −2.5 ≤ and <-1.0 150 (34.1) 07 (26.9) χ2 = 3.9573 NS
 Osteoporosis < −2.5 249 (56.6) 19 (73.1) NS
BMD (Z-score) 0.13 ± 1.04 –0.20 ± 0.68 p < 0.05
 ≥ 0 228 (51.8) 09 (34.6)  
 -1.0 ≤ and < 0 157 (35.7) 14 (53.9) χ2 = 3.6541
 ≤ −1.0 055 (12.5) 03 (11.5) NS

determined after adjusting for age, body weight and BMI

determined after adjusting for age

1) Mean ± SD

2) not significant at p < 0.05 determined by ANCOVA-test or χ density2-test

3) n (%)

4) waist/hip ratio

5) bone mineral

Table 5.
Blood pressure and biochemical index for anemia according to the vitamin B12 status
  Normal (n = 440) Low (n = 26) Significance
Blood pressure (mmHg)      
 Systolic 121.6 ± 16.21) 118.5 ± 16.4 NS 2)
 Diastolic 75.3 ± 11.31) 073.1 ± 11.6 NS
 Hypertension 3) 078 (17.7)4) 03 (11.5) χ2 = 0.6548
 Normal 362 (82.3) 23 (88.5) NS
Red blood cell (106/μL) 4.08 ± 0.341) 03.92 ± 0.35 p < 0.05
 Normal ≥ 3.6 415 (94.3) 22 (84.6) χ2 = 3.9603
 Low < 3.6 025 (05.7) 04 (15.4) p < 0.05
Hemoglobin (g/dL) 012.4 ± 1.101) 012.0 ± 1.20 p < 0.05
 Normal ≥ 12 365 (83.0) 18 (69.2) χ2 = 3.1585
 Low < 12 075 (17.0) 08 (30.8) NS
Hematocrit (%) 038.1 ±3.201) 036.6 ± 2.80 p < 0.05
 Normal ≥ 36 355 (80.7) 16 (61.5) χ2 = 5.5431
 Low < 36 085 (19.3) 10 (38.5) p < 0.05
MCV 5) (fL.) 093.4 ± 4.401) 094.0 ± 6.50 NS
 Microcytic ≤ 80 004 (00.9) 00 (00.0)  
 Normal 80 < MCV < 100 406 (92.3) 24 (92.3) χ2 = 0.2637 NS
 Macrocytic ≥ 100 030 (06.8) 02 (07.7) NS

determined after adjusting for age, body weight and BMI

1) Mean ± SD

2) not significant at p < 0.05 determined by ANCOVA test or χ2-test

3) systolic ≥ 140 mmHg or diastolic ≥ 90 mmHg

4) n (%)

5) Mean corpuscular volume

Table 6.
Blood measurement according to the vitamin B12 status
  Normal (n = 440) Low (n = 26) Significance
Serum B12 (pg/mL) 732.3 ± 202.41) 261.4 ± 77.8 p < 0.001
Total protein (g/dL) 08.34 ± 1.34 08.82 ± 1.84 NS 2)
 Normal ≥ 6.0 439 (99.8)3) 026 (100.0) χ2 = 0.0592
 Low < 6.0 001 (00.2) 000 (000.0) NS
Albumin (g/dL) 04.86 ± 0.74 05.16 ± 1.02 p < 0.05
 Normal ≥ 3.5 439 (99.8) 026 (100.0) χ2 = 0.0592
 Low < 3.5 001 (00.2) 000 (000.0) NS
Total cholesterol (mg/dL) 229.5 ± 57.7 237.5 ± 82.8 NS
 High > 220 231 (52.5) 010 (038.5) χ2 = 1.9375
 Normal ≤ 220 209 (47.5) 016 (061.5) NS
HDL-cholesterol (mg/dL) 058.1 ± 18.4 058.4 ± 24.0 NS
 Normal (≥ 40) 379 (86.1) 023 (088.5) χ2 = 0.1120
 Low (< 40) 061 (13.9) 003 (011.5) NS
LDL-cholesterol (mg/dL) 137.3 ± 45.7 146.8 ± 63.5 NS
 High >130 235 (54.4) 012 (046.1) χ2 = 0.5188
 Normal ≤ 130 205 (46.6) 014 (053.9) NS
Triglyceride (mg/dL) 191.1 ± 101.7 195.4 ± 96.6 NS
 High > 200 152 (34.6) 011 (042.3) χ2 = 0.6504
 Normal ≤ 200 298 (65.4) 015 (057.7) NS
25-(OH) D3 (ng/mL) 018.7 ± 5.5 17.2 ± 6.7 NS
 Adequate > 30 010 (02.3) 002 (07.7)  
 Moderate 20 ≤ and < 30 157 (35.6) 006 (023.1) χ2 = 11.5916
 Low 10 ≤ and < 20 249 (56.6) 013 (050.0) p < 0.01
 Deficient < 10 024 (05.5) 005 (019.2)  
Folate (ng/mL) 07.82 ± 3.98 08.13 ± 5.06 NS
 Normal ≥ 3 430 (97.7) 022 (084.6) χ2 = 14.4836
 Low < 3 010 (02.3) 004 (015.4) p < 0.001
Homocysteine (μ mol/L) 015.3 ± 4.3 023.1 ± 12.7 p < 0.001<
 High > 17 120 (27.3) 015 (057.7) χ2 = 11.0397
 Normal ≤ 17 320 (72.7) 011 (042.3) p < 0.001
hs-CRP (mg/L) 01.43 ± 2.92 01.64 ± 2.36 NS
 Very high > 3.0 039 (08.9) 003 (011.5) χ2 = 1.4537
 High 1.0 < and ≤ 3.0 113 (25.7) 009 (034.6)
 Normal ≤ 1.0 288 (65.4) 014 (053.9) NS
HBa1c (%) 06.11 ± 0.59 06.07 ± 0.39 NS
 High ≥ 6.5 053 (12.1) 003 (011.5) χ2 = 0.0060
 Normal < 6.5 387 (87.9) 023 (088.5) NS
DHEAS (μ g/dL) 032.8 ± 28.6 027.1 ± 14.4 NS
IGF-1 (ng/mL) 093.5 ± 44.0 088.9 ± 43.3 NS

determined after adjusting for age, body weight and BMI

1) Mean ± SD

2) not significant at p < 0.05 determined by ANCOVA test or χ2-test

3) n (%)

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