Serum vitamin B 12 and folic acid levels in patients with fasciolopsiasis

Abstract

Serum vitamin B 12 , serum and red cell folate concentrations and vitamin B 12 absorption were studied in 100 patients with fasciolopsiasis. A mean value of serum vitamin B 12 level in the patient group was found to be significantly lower than that of normal subjects and 14% of these patients had serum vitamin B 1 2 level less than 100 pg/ml. Serum UBBC and TBBC levels in the patients were significantly higher than those of the normal subjects. Serum TCI and TCIII increased significantly while TCII decreased. Vitamin B 12 absorption was found to be impaired in 3 of 9 patients studied. There was no relationship seen between serum vitamin B 12 level and vitamin B 12 absorption. The mean values of serum folate and red cell folate levels in the patient group were significantly lower than those of normal subjects. 15 of 100 patients (15%) had serum folate level less than 3 ng/ml, while all of them had red cell folate higher than 100 ng/ml. Serum folic acid binding protein levels (FABP) in these patients, were not significantly different from those of normal subjects.