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June 1981, Vol 135, No. 6 >
Article | June 1981

Nutritional Vitamin B12 Deficiency in Infants FREE

JULIAN R. DAVIS, MD; JOHN GOLDENRING, MD; BERTRAM H. LUBIN, MD
Am J Dis Child. 1981;135(6):566-567. doi:10.1001/archpedi.1981.02130300064021.
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Megaloblastic anemia in childhood is uncommon and usually due to nutritional deficiency rather than to congenital metabolic disease.1 Individuals who subsist on diets that exclude eggs, meat, and dairy products are known as vegans and are particularly susceptible because of a virtually complete lack of dietary vitamin B12. A case of profound vitamin B12 deficiency in the exclusively breast-fed infant of a vegan, manifesting the triad of megaloblastic anemia with pancytopenia, aminoaciduria, and neurologic changes, is reviewed to alert physicians to this easily preventable nutritional problem and to the need for early parental counseling and dietary supplementation.

Report of a Case.—A previously well 6-month-old boy was admitted to Children's Hospital Medical Center, Oakland, Calif, because of severe anemia. The patient was the product of an uncomplicated full-term pregnancy and delivery. The family had been strict vegans for a period of seven years, and the infant had

REFERENCES

1 +
Dallman P:  Megaloblastic anemia: Vitamin B12 deficiency , in Oski FA, Nathan DG (eds): Hematology of Infancy and Childhood . Philadelphia, WB Saunders Co, 1974;, pp 131-134.
2 +
Fomon SJ, Strauss RG:  Nutrient deficiencies in breast fed infants . N Engl J Med 1978;;299:355-356.
3 +
Ponowalla IW, Kaul KK, Bnandari NR, et al:  Infantile 'meningoencephalitic syndrome' . Indian J Pediatr 1960;;27:49-54.
4 +
Jadhav M, Webb JKG, Waishaver S, et al:  Vitamin B12 deficiency in Indian infants: A clinical syndrome . Lancet 1962;;2:903-907.
5 +
Lampkin BC, Saunders EF:  Nutritional vitamin B12 deficiency in an infant . J Pediatr 1969;;75:1053-1055.
6 +
Higginbottom MC, Sweetman L, Nyhan WL:  A syndrome of methylmalonic aciduria, homocystinuria, megaloblastic anemia and neurologic abnormalities in a vitamin B12 deficient breast fed infant of a strict vegetarian . N Engl J Med 1978;;229:317-323.
7 +
Frader J, Reibman B, Turkewitz D:  Vitamin B12 deficiency in strict vegetarians . N Engl J Med 1978;;299:1319.
8 +
Luhby AL, Cooperman JM, Stone ML, et al:  Physiology of vitamin B12 in pregnancy, the placenta, and the newborn . Am J Dis Child 1961;;102:753-754.
9 +
Luhby AL, Cooperman JM, Donnfeld AM, et al:  Observations on transfer of vitamin B12 from mother to fetus and newborn . Am J Dis Child 1958;;96:532-533.

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Country-Specific Mortality and Growth Failure in Infancy and Yound Children and Association With Material Stature

Use interactive graphics and maps to view and sort country-specific infant and early dhildhood mortality and growth failure data and their association with maternal

References

1 +
Dallman P:  Megaloblastic anemia: Vitamin B12 deficiency , in Oski FA, Nathan DG (eds): Hematology of Infancy and Childhood . Philadelphia, WB Saunders Co, 1974;, pp 131-134.
2 +
Fomon SJ, Strauss RG:  Nutrient deficiencies in breast fed infants . N Engl J Med 1978;;299:355-356.
3 +
Ponowalla IW, Kaul KK, Bnandari NR, et al:  Infantile 'meningoencephalitic syndrome' . Indian J Pediatr 1960;;27:49-54.
4 +
Jadhav M, Webb JKG, Waishaver S, et al:  Vitamin B12 deficiency in Indian infants: A clinical syndrome . Lancet 1962;;2:903-907.
5 +
Lampkin BC, Saunders EF:  Nutritional vitamin B12 deficiency in an infant . J Pediatr 1969;;75:1053-1055.
6 +
Higginbottom MC, Sweetman L, Nyhan WL:  A syndrome of methylmalonic aciduria, homocystinuria, megaloblastic anemia and neurologic abnormalities in a vitamin B12 deficient breast fed infant of a strict vegetarian . N Engl J Med 1978;;229:317-323.
7 +
Frader J, Reibman B, Turkewitz D:  Vitamin B12 deficiency in strict vegetarians . N Engl J Med 1978;;299:1319.
8 +
Luhby AL, Cooperman JM, Stone ML, et al:  Physiology of vitamin B12 in pregnancy, the placenta, and the newborn . Am J Dis Child 1961;;102:753-754.
9 +
Luhby AL, Cooperman JM, Donnfeld AM, et al:  Observations on transfer of vitamin B12 from mother to fetus and newborn . Am J Dis Child 1958;;96:532-533.

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