STUDY OF VITAMIN B12 LEVELS IN MOTHERS AND INFANTS AND ITS CORRELATION WITH GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT OF INFANT

Dr. Sonu Kumar* and Dr. Ramesh C .

ABSTRACT

Vitamin B12 deficiency is a major threat to public health globally.[1,2] It plays an essential role in fetal and infant development. The burden of vitamin B12 deficiency in India is thought to be among the highest in the world. It is found in food animal origin and cannot be synthesized in human .It is essential for normal blood and neurological function. Data on the prevalence of B12 deficiency in the Indian population is high and among pregnant and lactating mothers, the figures range from 52% to 74%.[3] Maternal vitamin B12 deficiency has been associated with greater risk of pregnancy complications, such as spontaneous abortion, low birth weight, intrauterine growth restriction and neural tube defects.[4] Deficiency of vitamin B12 causes megaloblastic anemia, retardation of growth and delay in neuromotor maturation.

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