A cross sectional analysis vitamin b12 and folic acid levels in neurology and psychiatry outpatient's [Nöroloji ve psikiyatri polikliniǧine başvuran hastlarda vitamin b12 ve folik asit düzeylerinin kesitsel i̇ncelenmesi]

Objective: vitamin b12 (vb12) and folic acid (fa) deficiencies may be subtle and unrecognized and cause various neuropsychiatric problems. serum levels of vb12,fa and distribution patterns in a broad range of hospital adult population were investigated. methods: cross-sectional analysis of laboratory results of vb12,fa during a year was made in a university hospital. only the first measurements of the patients during this time frame were taken into analysis. the patients under 18 years were excluded. the laboratory results of 13875 patients vb12,fa levels were analysed. the mean levels of vb12,fa were analysed. vb12 and fa levels in different age groups and gender were also studied. three different levels of vb12 were also analysed. results: the overall mean level of vb12 (n=13875) and fa were 344.84 ± 184.44 pg/ml,and 8.76 ± 3.96 ng/ml respectively. mean levels of vb12 were 350.77 ± 184.43 pg/ml,in females and 332.20 ± 183.84 pg/ml,in males whereas mean fa levels were 9.12 ± 3.99 ng/ml in females and 8.01± 3.78 ng/ml in males. vb12 and fa levels was significantly high in females (p<0.001). level of vb12 was significantly different in all age groups (p: 0.0001). conclusions: we believe that vb12 and fa deficiency should be considered in a primary care setting and it is easy to treat and prevents serious neurological and psychiatric complications.