Food-cobalamin malabsorption in elderly patients: clinical manifestations and treatment
Andrès E, Affenberger S, Vinzio S, Kurtz JE, Noel E, Kaltenbach G, et al.
Published in Am J Med, Vol. 118 (10), pp. 1154-9
Methodology
Retrospective analysis of 92 older patients with food-cobalamin malabsorption from an observational cohort of 172 consecutive older patients with documented deficiency.
Key Findings
Median age 76. Mild sensory polyneuropathy in 44.6%, confusion in 22.8%, anaemia in 21%. Serum B12 and blood counts corrected equally well with oral or intramuscular crystalline cyanocobalamin.
Conclusions
Food-cobalamin malabsorption in older people can cause neurologic, psychologic and blood abnormalities that respond to oral or injected B12.
Limitations
Retrospective, no randomisation, single clinical setting.
Related Health Concerns
Study Details
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