[Vitamin B12 and folate in non-institutionalized urban older people].

Vitamin B12 and folate deficiencies are the main nutritional determinants of hyperhomocysteinemia, which is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. There is scarce information about nutritional status on vitamin B12 and serum levels of folate in Mexican older people. The objective was to evaluate the nutritional status of vitamin B12 and folic acid concentration in non-institutionalized, urban elderly men and women subjects. One hundred volunteers over 60 years were included in this cross-sectional study. Serum levels of vitamin B12 and folate were measured. In addition some biochemical and anthropometric indicators were also evaluated. Considering serum values of vitamin, 30% had vitamin B12 deficiency, 52% normal status and 18% with high levels. None subjects had folic acid deficiency, by the contrary, a high proportion (62%) showed elevated levels in serum. There was an effect of sex on vitamin B12 status. Elderly men showed significantly lower levels of vitamin B12, and it was according with significant higher prevalence of vitamin B12 deficiency in this group as compared with the women group. The high proportion of vitamin B12 deficiency found in this study underline a possible public health problem and guarantee further survey-studies about vitamin B12 status and to explore causes and consequences of the deficiency. Finally, due the sample size and the design of the study, the results must be seen with caution and not try to generalize.