Assessment of Vitamin B12, Folate Levels and some Haematological Parameters among Females on De-Deon syrup in Port Harcourt, Nigeria

Abstract

Introduction: There is a disturbing trend with intake of un-prescribed doses of multivitamin syrup as a recovering medication after illness since it is believed to boost blood blood cell production. This study aims to assess the effect of De-Deon haemoglobin syrup on Vitamin B₁₂, Folate Levels and some Haematological Parameters among Females in Port Harcourt, Nigeria. 

Methods: Ten (10) apparently healthy female subjects between the ages of 20 to 30 years were recruited for the study; blood samples were collected via standard vein-puncture technique before administration of the drug; on the fourth (4th) day, after day 3 of drug administration; and after day 6 of drug administration. Vitamin B₁₂, and folate were analyzed using ELISA method; while haematological parameters were determined using Sysmex autoanalyzer. Data were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences computer database (Version 10.0; SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA) for mean, standard deviation, analysis of variance and correlation, p-value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant.  

Results:  showed no significant change (p>0.05) in vitamin B₁₂, folate, red blood cells (RBC), white blood cells (WBC), haemoglobin (Hb), haematocrit (HCT) and platelet count before treatment (Day 1), during treatment (day 3) and after treatment (day 6) of De-Deon syrup administration. Correlation analysis of Vitamin B₁₂ against haematological parameters for day, 1, 3, and after day 6 showed significant negative correlation against haemoglobin level (r = 0.6731; p = 0.0373) and statistically significant positive correlation against platelets (r = 0.6731; p = 0.0165) after day 1. Statistically significant positive correlation of vitamin B₁₂ against platelets (r = 0.6795; p = 0.0153) was observed after day 3; no significant statistically significant correlation in levels of vitamin B₁₂ against other haematological parameters were observed. No significant correlation was also observed for folate and haematological parameters after day 1, 3, and 6.

Conclusion: The study has therefore revealed that De-Deon syrup of haemoglobin when taken within a short period of time (acute administration), showed no statistically significant effect on vitamin B₁₂, folate and haematological parameters. However, vitamin B₁₂ was increased albeit without any significance. Although no significance was observed in the study, the significant positive correlation between vitamin B₁₂ and platelet count points out the relevance of vitamin B₁₂ supplementation as it is required in the metabolism of every cell of the human body and also a cofactor in DNA synthesis in both fatty acid and amino acid metabolism.