The aim of this study is to assess the prevalence of vitamin B12 insufficiency in children applying to pediatric outpatient clinics according to gender and age groups. The study included kids aged 0 to 18 whose blood vitamin B12 levels were assessed in pediatric outpatient clinics. Serum vitamin B12 levels of children were measured by hospital automation and values below 200 pg/mL were considered insufficient, values above 200–300 pg/mL were considered normal, and values above 300 pg/mL were considered normal. 6707 children's data were examined. The gender split among the kids was 54.9% female and 45.1% male. The age was 6.8±5.2 years on average. For women, the median level was 341.5 pg/mL while for males, it was 349.8 pg/mL. Patients aged 0 to 6 years had a median level of vitamin B12 (n=3108) of 392.9 pg/mL. Between the ages of 7 and 12, the median level of vitamin B12 was found to be 339.1 pg/mL (n=2271). Among patients aged 13 to 18 years, the median level of vitamin B12 (n=1328) was found to be 284.6 pg/mL. According to age groups, vitamin B12 insufficiency occurred less often. The age group of 13 to 18 years old had the greatest prevalence of blood vitamin B12 deficiency, at 19.4%. Children who applied to pediatric outpatient clinics' blood vitamin B12 levels were examined in this study, and results were broken down by age and gender. It was revealed that deficiencies were more prevalent, particularly in adolescence. Also, it was shown that women require more vitamin B12 than men do.
Key words: B12, child, age, gender
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