Vol. 7, Issue 3, Part D (2024)

Background: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a progressive disorder characterised by kidney abnormalities, often shown by an eGFR below 60 ml/min/1.73m² or kidney damage indicators for at least 3 months. ESRD, characterised by a GFR below 15 mL/min/1.73 m², generally requires RRT, with haemodialysis (HD) being the most prevalent method. HD patients may lack water-soluble vitamins such Vitamin B12 (cobalamin), which is essential for cell function and metabolism. These deficiencies can come from HD-related losses, decreased nutrition, gastrointestinal malabsorption, and altered metabolism. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between Vitamin B12 status and ESRD in patients undergoing hemodialysis.

Methods: This case-control study included 100 participants from Baquaba Teaching Hospital, conducted from April 1, 2023, to July 1, 2023. The participants were divided into three groups: 32 adults on HD for more than 3 years with a mean age of 49.5 years, 38 adults on HD for less than 3 years with a mean age of 48.0 years, and 30 healthy adults with no history of CKD as a control group with a mean age of 44.7 years. Serum B12, blood urea, serum creatinine, and serum albumin levels were measured in all participants.

Results: The study found a significant difference in serum Vitamin B12 levels between the ESRD and control groups, with the ESRD group exhibiting lower levels (220.8±110.7 ρg/mL) compared to the control group (340.7±89.4 ρg/mL) with a p-value of < 0.001. Additionally, there was a moderate negative correlation between dialysis duration and Vitamin B12 levels (rho = -0.259, P=0.029), indicating that longer dialysis duration is associated with lower Vitamin B12 levels.

Conclusion: This study highlights a significant correlation between Vitamin B12 deficiency and chronic renal failure. ESRD patients had lower Vitamin B12 levels than the control group, and longer durations of dialysis were associated with greater deficiencies. These findings underscore the importance of monitoring and addressing Vitamin B12 deficiency in individuals with ESRD to improve clinical outcomes.