Background: 

Serum vitamin B12 plays a crucial role in cellular growth, DNA synthesis, and maintaining a healthy nervous system. Its deficiency can lead to various health issues, including cardiovascular problems. The reference range for vitamin B12 varies between populations due to cultural, genetic, and dietary differences.

Methods: 

A cross-sectional study was conducted on 127 healthy An-Najah National University students aged between 18 and 25. Blood samples were collected, and a questionnaire assessed factors affecting vitamin B12 levels. Serum vitamin B12 levels were measured using ACCUBIND ELIZA microwells.

Results: 

The study found a reference range for serum vitamin B12 of 136–640 pg/mL (5^th to 95^th percentile) among the studied population, which differed from the manufacturer’s claimed range of 200–835 pg/mL. Gender did not significantly affect the reference intervals.

Conclusion: 

The study highlights the importance of establishing local reference values for laboratory tests like vitamin B12 due to variations in demographics. Further research in different Palestinian regions and age groups with larger sample sizes is recommended to refine these reference values.

Title

Journal of family medicine and primary care

Publisher

Wolters Kluwer ‑ Medknow

Publisher Country

India

Indexing

Scopus

Impact Factor

1.1

Publication Type

Online only

Volume

13

Year

2024

Pages

4035-4040