ArticleIndian journal of community medicine : official publication of Indian Association of Preventive & Social Medicine
Prevalence of Vitamin B12 Deficiency and Its Associated Risk Factors among Pregnant Women of Rural South India: A Community-based Cross-sectional Study.
Article in Indian journal of community medicine : official publication of Indian Association of Preventive & Social Medicine. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 10 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.
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Who cites it
10 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 24 citations in OpenAlex.
- Deficiency of B vitamins in women of childbearing age, pregnant, and lactating women in Brazil: a systematic review.Systematic reviews · 2025Pooled it
- Micronutrient's deficiency in India: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Journal of nutritional science · 2021Pooled it
- Prevalence and determinants of anaemia among pregnant women using biomass fuel in rural Tamil Nadu: a cross-sectional study.BMC pregnancy and childbirth · 2026Article
- Folate and Vitamin B12 Status in Women of Reproductive Age in Rural Haryana, India: Estimating Population-Based Prevalence for Neural Tube Defects.Birth defects research · 2024Article
- Recommendations for India-specific multiple micronutrient supplement through expert consultation.The Indian journal of medical research · 2024Article
- Association of maternal and cord vitamin B12 levels with anthropometry in term neonates born to malnourished mothers in coastal South India.F1000Research · 2024Article
- B12 Deficiency is the Commonest Cause of Anaemia During Pregnancy in Northern India: Study from a Tertiary Care Institute.Indian journal of hematology & blood transfusion : an official journal of Indian Society of Hematology and Blood Transfusion · 2024Article
- The complex relationship between iron status and anemia in pregnant and postpartum women in India: Analysis of two Indian study cohorts of uncomplicated pregnancies.American journal of hematology · 2023Article
- Prevalence and Risk Factors of Vitamin BNutrients · 2022Article
- Editors' Commentary:International journal of spine surgery · 2022Article
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5 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.
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Abstract
introductionVitamin B12 is essential for the normal functioning of the nervous system and for the formation of red blood cells. Vegetarian diet, low socioeconomic status, and social and religious reasons are known risk factors of its deficiency. Pregnant women, children, and the elderly are vulnerable groups. Indians have the highest prevalence, but the data among pregnant women in the rural setting is lacking.
objectivesThe objective of this study is to assess the prevalence of Vitamin B12 deficiency and its associated factors among pregnant women of rural South India. MATERIALS AND
methodsA cross-sectional study was conducted to recruit consecutive 120 multigravida women with ≤20 weeks of gestation, attending the mobile doctor run clinic of Kaniyambadi block, Vellore. A structured questionnaire was administered, and blood samples were collected.
resultsThe prevalence of Vitamin B12 deficiency (<200 pgm/ml) and anemia (Hb ≤10.5 g/dL) was 55% and 17.5%, respectively. Only 11.7% were B12 deficient and anemic. Past history of abortion (odds ratio [OR] = 0.5), fatigue (OR = 0.4), and low B12 intake (OR = 2) was associated only in the bivariate analysis. First trimester (OR = 3.9) and obesity (OR = 9.6) were found to be independent risk factors of Vitamin B12 deficiency.
conclusionOur study showed a high prevalence of Vitamin B12 deficiency in pregnancy in rural India. Some risk factors were identified. However, studies with a higher sample size will be beneficial to study the associated risk factors better.
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