Zinc deficiency: The association with vitamin B۱۲ in people of different ages

Zinc and vitamin B۱۲ are of the foremost important micronutrients. Nowadays, alongside insufficient vitamin B۱۲ level, zinc deficiency has become a major health problem worldwide. Considering the importance of these micronutrients, this study aimed to investigate the association between zinc deficiency and vitamin B۱۲ in people of different ages, who had their blood tests in the Pasteur laboratory in Ahvaz. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, serum levels of zinc and vitamin B۱۲ were measured using atomic absorption spectrophotometry and Electro-chemiluminescence, respectively. Then, based on serumlevel of zinc, samples were divided into normal and zinc-deficient groups. Serum vitamin B۱۲ levels were also compared between two defined groups. The correlation between age and both zinc and vitamin B۱۲ was determined through statistical tests.Results: In ۶۰.۵% of samples, serum zinc was lower than normal group. However, there was no statistically significant difference in zinc level between two groups (p=۰.۰۸۵). Findings showed that with increasing one year of age, serum zinc level decreases by ۰.۱۳ units and serum level of vitamin B۱۲ increases by ۰.۱۹ units. Although serum level of vitamin B۱۲ in the group with normal zinc level was higher than zinc deficient group, this difference was not statistically significant (p=۰.۷۴۳). Conclusion: Zinc and Vitamin B۱۲ serum levels can have a clinically positive correlation and zinc deficiency might be effective in the manipulating of vitamin B۱۲ status in the body.

Keywords:

Zinc , Vitamin B۱۲ , Age , Zinc deficiency.