Prevalence of Vitamin <scp>B12</scp> Deficiency and Its Association With Age and Gender in a Healthy Population From Sulaymaniyah City, Iraq

Vitamin B12 plays a vital role in neurological function, DNA synthesis, and red blood cell production, yet its deficiency remains an underrecognized public health issue, particularly in developing countries such as Iraq. This study assessed the prevalence of vitamin B12 deficiency and its association with age and gender in a healthy population from Sulaymaniyah City, Iraq. Serum vitamin B12 levels were evaluated in 427 individuals aged 1-89 years using chemiluminescent immunoassay. Participants were stratified by age group and gender, and vitamin B12 status was classified as deficient (< 200 pg/mL), borderline (200-300 pg/mL), or normal (> 300 pg/mL). Overall, 38.7% of participants exhibited vitamin B12 deficiency, with the highest prevalence observed among adults (41.4%) and the elderly (42.6%). Children displayed the highest mean serum B12 levels and the lowest deficiency rate (12.2%), while adolescents showed intermediate values. Mean serum B12 concentrations decreased significantly with age (p < 0.001), and a weak but significant inverse correlation was detected between age and serum B12 levels (r = -0.1806, p = 0.0002). Gender analysis in adults revealed no significant difference in mean B12 concentrations between females and males, although deficiency was more frequent in males (50%) than in females (37.7%), without reaching statistical significance. These findings underscore age as a key factor influencing vitamin B12 status in this population and highlight the importance of age-targeted screening and preventive strategies to mitigate the risk of deficiency and its associated health consequences.