Araji G, Keesari PR, Chowdhry V, Valsechi-Diaz J, Afif S, Diab W, El-Sayegh S. Vitamin B12 deficiency in dialysis patients: risk factors, diagnosis, complications, and treatment: A comprehensive review. World J Nephrol 2024; 13(4): 100268 [DOI: 10.5527/wjn.v13.i4.100268]
Corresponding Author of This Article
Ghada Araji, MD, Doctor, Department of Internal Medicine, Northwell Health-Staten Island University Hospital, 475 Seaview Ave, Staten Island, NY 10305, United States. garaji@northwell.edu
Research Domain of This Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Article-Type of This Article
Review
Open-Access Policy of This Article
This article is an open-access article which was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/
World J Nephrol. Dec 25, 2024; 13(4): 100268 Published online Dec 25, 2024. doi: 10.5527/wjn.v13.i4.100268
Vitamin B12 deficiency in dialysis patients: risk factors, diagnosis, complications, and treatment: A comprehensive review
Ghada Araji, Praneeth R Keesari, Varun Chowdhry, Jonathan Valsechi-Diaz, Sarah Afif, Wassim Diab, Suzanne El-Sayegh
Ghada Araji, Praneeth R Keesari, Varun Chowdhry, Jonathan Valsechi-Diaz, Wassim Diab, Department of Internal Medicine, Northwell Health-Staten Island University Hospital, Staten Island, NY 10305, United States
Sarah Afif, Department of Internal Medicine, CUNY School of Medicine, New York, NY 10031, United States
Suzanne El-Sayegh, Department of Nephrology, Northwell Health-Staten Island University Hospital, Staten Island, NY 10305, United States
Co-first authors: Ghada Araji and Praneeth R Keesari.
Author contributions: Araji G and Keesari PR were involved in the conception and design of the study, drafting the article, and making critical revisions; Chowdhry V, Valsechi-Diaz J, and Afif S were involved in acquisition and interpretation of data, and drafting the article; Diab W and El-Sayegh S were involved in conception and design of the study, and making critical revisions; All authors approved the final version of the article to be published.
Conflict-of-interest statement: The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.
Open-Access: This article is an open-access article that was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: https://creativecommons.org/Licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Corresponding author: Ghada Araji, MD, Doctor, Department of Internal Medicine, Northwell Health-Staten Island University Hospital, 475 Seaview Ave, Staten Island, NY 10305, United States. garaji@northwell.edu
Received: August 11, 2024 Revised: September 24, 2024 Accepted: October 8, 2024 Published online: December 25, 2024 Processing time: 87 Days and 10 Hours
Abstract
Vitamin B12 deficiency is a significant concern among patients with end-stage renal disease undergoing dialysis. However, there hasn’t been extensive research conducted on this particular patient group. The reported incidence rates vary widely, ranging from 20% to 90%, reflecting the complexity of its diagnosis. Dialysis patients often face multiple nutritional deficiencies, including a lack of essential vitamins, due to factors such as dietary restrictions, impaired absorption, and nutrient loss during dialysis. Diagnosing vitamin B12 deficiency in these patients is challenging, and addressing it is crucial to prevent complications and improve their overall quality of life. This review paper delves into the available body of evidence on vitamin B12 deficiency in dialysis patients, examining the contributing risk factors, diagnostic challenges, potential complications, and available treatment options. It provides a well-rounded perspective on the topic, making it a valuable resource for researchers, healthcare practitioners, and policymakers interested in addressing the nutritional needs of dialysis patients.
Core Tip: This review highlights the critical yet often overlooked issue of vitamin B12 deficiency in dialysis patients, emphasizing its complex diagnosis and severe complications such as anemia, neuropathy, and cardiovascular risk. The review advocates for a proactive approach in diagnosing and managing vitamin B12 deficiency, recommending comprehensive assessments beyond standard serum levels and highlighting the efficacy of high-dose oral and parenteral supplementation. These insights underscore the necessity for heightened awareness and targeted interventions to improve patient outcomes in this vulnerable population.
