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- Title
Cobalamin-binding proteins in normal and cobalamin-deficient older subjects.
- Authors
van Asselt, Dieneke Z. B.; Thomas, Chris M. G.; Segers, Martin F. G.; Blom, Henk J.; Wevers, Ron A.; Hoefnagels, Willibrord H. L.
- Abstract
Background: The causes of cobalamin (vitamin B12) deficiency in older people are only partly understood. We investigated the role of the cobalamin-binding proteins and tested the hypothesis that low saturated transcobalamin concentration is an early marker of cobalamin deficiency. Methods: We measured saturated (holo) and unsaturated (apo) transcobalamin and haptocorrin concentrations in healthy middle-aged volunteers, healthy older volunteers, cobalamin-deficient older volunteers and cobalamin-deficient older patients. Results: Holo and apo concentrations of transcobalamin and haptocorrin were similar in healthy middle-aged and older subjects. Holotranscobalamin concentrations were significantly decreased in cobalamin-deficient subjects but did not differ between healthy volunteers and patients. Furthermore, the relative amount of cobalamin on transcobalamin (i.e. holotranscobalamin/holotranscobalamin + holohaptocorrin) was similar in all four groups. Conclusions: Abnormalities of the cobalamin-binding proteins are not a cause of cobalamin deficiency in the aged. Plasma holotranscobalamin concentration did not differ between stages of cobalamin deficiency in older persons. Therefore, plasma holotranscobalamin is not an early marker of cobalamin deficiency in older people and has no additional value in the diagnostic work-up of reduced plasma cobalamin concentrations in older people.
- Subjects
PUBLIC health research; CLINICAL trials; VITAMIN B12 deficiency; CALCIUM-binding proteins; VITAMIN B12; VITAMIN deficiency
- Publication
Annals of Clinical Biochemistry, 2003, Vol 40, Issue 1, p65
- ISSN
0004-5632
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1258/000456303321016187