Vitamin B12 deficiency among Newly-Arrived Syrian Refugees in Central Anatolia of Turkey

Authors : Muzaffer Keklik, Uğur Kalan, Serdal Korkmaz, Özerhan Özer, Pınar Ipek, Adile Ortaköylüoğlu, Ertuğrul Keklik

Pages : 22-30

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Publication Date : 2017-05-22

Article Type : Research

Abstract :Purpose: Vitamin B12 (cobalamin) has the most complex chemical structure of all vitamins and it  is  obtained naturally only from products of animal origin  in developing countries.  Vitamin B12 deficiency is prevalent in countries of origin of refugees.  The aim of this study was to determine  the  prevalence  of  vitamin  B12  deficiency  among  newly-arrived  Syrian  refugees  in  Central  Anatolia of  Turkey.  Journal of Anatolian Medical Research 2017; 2(1): 22-30 Orjinal  Araştırma 23 Methods:  Newly  arrived  256  refugees  aged  ≥  16  years  were  tested  for  vitamin  B12  level  and  other hematological parameters.  Results: We found that 50 participants (19.5%) had vitamin B12 deficiency (≤ 150 pmol/L).  Low  levels of vitamin B12 were  prevalent  among males those over the age of 50 (44.4%)  (p=0.01) and  females those under the age of 50 (75%) (p<0.001).  Conclusion:  The results of this study shown that, the prevalence of vitamin B12 deficiency was  higher in Syrian refugees, especially in older men and younger women.  To our knowledge, this is  the  first  nationally  representative  study  for  Central  Anatolia  of  Turkey  about  vitamin  B12  deficiency in refugees. 
Keywords : refugee, vit B12 deficiency