Studies linking
hyperhomocysteinemia (HHCY) and
B-vitamin deficiency to some health aspects in children have been accumulating. Low
B-vitamin status inearly life, even as early as the time of conception, may endanger the potential for new life and may negatively influence the health of the offspring. Early abortion,
pregnancy complications and poor pregnancy outcomes have been linked to elevated concentrations of total plasma
homocysteine (tHcy) and low
folate or
vitamin B12. Maternal
vitamin status predicts that of fetuses and neonates. Lactating women are likely to experience low
micronutrient status, which might affect breast-milk composition and hence the nutritional status of their breast-fed infants. Elevated concentrations of
methylmalonic acid (MMA) is common in infants (age <6 months), which may indicate a transient inadequate
vitamin B12 status. Deficiency of
B-vitamins might confer deleterious effects on the physical and mental health of the child, such as impaired growth, gross motor function, poor school performance and other adaptive skills. The importance of maintaining adequate
B-vitamin status during periods of progressive growth and development should be emphasized because symptoms related to
folate and
vitamin B12 deficiency are difficult to detect. Serum levels of tHcy and MMA should be estimated in several target groups of children, pregnant and lactating women and those planning for pregnancy. Concentrations of tHcy and MMA are useful indicators of
B-vitamin status in the pediatric laboratory. Using these functional markers may facilitate detecting sub-optimal
B-vitamin status in children.