Vitamin-B12 deficiency in pregnancy and the puerperium

Abstract

Seven women with tropical malabsorption syndrome who had megaloblastic anaemia of pregnancy associated with vitamin-B12 deficiency were investigated, together with their babies. The women had a moderate to severe anaemia and low serum-vitamin-B12 levels. Breast milk vitamin-B12 levels in the puerperium were similar to serum-vitamin-B12levels. The babies had no anaemia, and had much higher serum-vitamin-B12 levels than their mothers. One baby had “ intermediate ” megaloblasts in its bone-marrow. The accumulation of vitamin B12 in foetal livers was studied. This reached a maximum of 20 to 25 μg. of total liver vitamin B12 at birth. Two stillborn foetuses from vitamin-B12-deficient mothers had greatly reduced liver vitamin-B12stores. Babies born of and suckled by vitamin-B12-deficient mothers may have lower body vitamin-B12stores, may receive less vitamin B12 in breast-milk feeds, and may be in danger of developing frank vitamin-B12 deficiency. © 1962, British Medical Journal Publishing Group. All rights reserved.