Food-cobalamin malabsorption in elderly patients: Clinical manifestations and treatment

To link to full-text access for this article, visit this link: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.amjmed.2005.02.026 Byline: Emmanuel Andres (a), Stephane Affenberger (a), Stephane Vinzio (b), Jean-Emmanuel Kurtz (c), Esther Noel (a), Georges Kaltenbach (d), Frederic Maloisel (c), Jean-Louis Schlienger (b), Jean-Frederic Blickle (a) Keywords: Cobalamin deficiency; Food-cobalamin malabsorption; Elderly patients; Atrophic gastritis; Drugs; Oral cobalamin treatment Abstract: Approximately 15% of people aged more than 60 years old have a cobalamin (vitamin B12) deficiency, mainly in relation with food-cobalamin malabsorption (FCM). To date, no study has documented this disorder in the elderly. There is also little information on clinical consequences. Author Affiliation: (a) Department of Internal Medicine, Diabetes and Metabolic Disorders, HA[acute accent]pitaux Universitaires de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France (b) Department of Internal Medicine and Nutrition, HA[acute accent]pitaux Universitaires de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France (c) Department of Oncology and Hematology, HA[acute accent]pitaux Universitaires de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France (d) Department of Internal Medicine and Geriatrics, HA[acute accent]pitaux Universitaires de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France Article Note: (footnote) This research was funded by the association pour le developpement de la recherche et de la formation medicale continue en Medecine Interne et l'association Leo Ambard.