| Cobalamin and folate deficiency: acquired and hereditary disorders in children. | |
| | |
MedLine Citation:
|
PMID: 9930566 Owner: NLM Status: MEDLINE |
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
|
This review highlights the features of cobalamin and folate deficiency and insufficiency that are particular to children. Maternal deficiency of cobalamin and insufficiency or deficiency of folate are the principal causes of deficiencies of these vitamins in the newborn. Maternal cobalamin deficiency can be caused by pernicious anemia or postgastrectomy, but most often results from a diet lacking in animal protein. The mothers are usually not anemic and failure to thrive and neurological deficits are more common in their infants than is megaloblastic anemia. Inborn errors of cobalamin transport and metabolism present with homocystinuria and methylmalonic aciduria, either alone or in combination. They share many of the clinical features of nutritional cobalamin deficiency. Maternal folate insufficiency results in neural tube defects, fetal loss, prematurity, and fetal growth retardation. Inborn errors of folate metabolism are rare, but polymorphisms affecting the gene for methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) are common and may have significant health implications. Elevation of plasma methylmalonic acid (MMA) levels reflects a functional lack of cobalamin, whereas elevated total homocysteine levels are associated with a lack of either folate or cobalamin. The determination of these should be part of the investigation of failure to thrive, neurological disorders, and unexplained anemia or cytopenias in children. |
| | |
Authors:
|
D S Rosenblatt; V M Whitehead |
Related Documents
:
|
18364326 - Micronutrient deficiencies and anemia among preschool children in rural vietnam. 15552816 - Clinicolaboratory findings and treatment of iron-deficiency anemia in childhood. 12637196 - A randomized, controlled lower leg growth study of vitamin d supplementation to healthy... 23212766 - Smoking and medication during pregnancy predict repeated unintentional injuries in earl... 22728606 - Children with adhd show no deficits in plantar foot sensitivity and static balance comp... 14527846 - Acute occupational disinfectant-related illness among youth, 1993-1998. |
Publication Detail:
|
Type: Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't; Review |
Journal Detail:
|
Title: Seminars in hematology Volume: 36 ISSN: 0037-1963 ISO Abbreviation: Semin. Hematol. Publication Date: 1999 Jan |
Date Detail:
|
Created Date: 1999-03-18 Completed Date: 1999-03-18 Revised Date: 2006-11-15 |
Medline Journal Info:
|
Nlm Unique ID: 0404514 Medline TA: Semin Hematol Country: UNITED STATES |
Other Details:
|
Languages: eng Pagination: 19-34 Citation Subset: IM |
Affiliation:
|
Faculty of Medicine, McGill University, The Royal Victoria and Montreal General Hospitals, QC, Canada. |
Export Citation:
|
APA/MLA Format Download EndNote Download BibTex |
| MeSH Terms | |
Descriptor/Qualifier:
|
Diet Female Folic Acid Deficiency / etiology*, genetics Humans Infant Infant, Newborn Maternal-Fetal Exchange Metabolism, Inborn Errors Pregnancy Vitamin B 12 Deficiency / etiology*, genetics |
From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine
Previous Document: The wide spectrum and unresolved issues of megaloblastic anemia.
Next Document: Modern clinical testing strategies in cobalamin and folate deficiency.