DOI: 10.21276/sasjm.2019.5.7.5

Pages: 111-119

Estimation of serum cobalamin level in malnourished infants was investigated at the Imo state university teaching hospital Orlu, Nigeria between January and November 2015. Serum vitamin B12 levels were assayed in 20 healthy and 20 malnourished aged 1-12 months using Competitive ELIZA Method. Serum proteins, albumin, globulin, iron, Total Iron Binding Capacity (TIBC), full blood count and anthropometric parameters (weight and height) of the infants were also measured. Stool analysis was also carried out. Serum vitamin B12, Anthropometric measurement, Full blood count, serum iron, TIBC, serum protein, albumin, globulin and stool analysis of malnourished infants were compared with that of normal healthy infants. The mean serum vitamin B12 level, was (1527.0±165. 1 pg/ml) significantly higher (p<0.05) in malnourished infants than in normal infants, (349.3±278.8pg/ml). Mean haemoglobin and PCV level in normal infants were (13.1 ± 1.5g/dl, 39.2 ±4.4%) respectively which was significantly higher (p<0.05) than that of malnourished infants (7.5 ± 1.8g/dl, 22.6±5.3%). The mean value of WBC in the infants with malnutrition was 12.9±2.7 x109/1 while it was 6.81±1.2x109/1 among the normal infants (p<0.05). The mean value of platelet counts were 282.8 ±72.2 x 109/1 and 326.0±54.4x 109/1 for the subjects and controls respectively (p<0.05). Anthropometric measurement of malnourished infants (Height 59.7 ± 8.8, weight 5.7 ± 1.7) decreased significantly (p<0.05) when compared with those of control (Height 69.5 ±8.7, weight 8.0± 2.5).