Holotranscobalamin Is a Useful Marker of Vitamin B12 Deficiency in Alcoholics
Background. Measurement of serum cobalamin (Cbl) levels is the standard investigation for assessing vitamin B12 deficiency. Falsely increased values of Cbl can be caused by alcoholic liver disease. Measurement of total vitamin B12 serum levels might be misleading in alcoholics, because a tissue meta...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2012-01-01
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| Series: | The Scientific World Journal |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1100/2012/128182 |
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| author | Alberto Fragasso Clara Mannarella Angela Ciancio Oronzo Scarciolla Nicoletta Nuzzolese Rocco Clemente Eustachio Vitullo Andrea Sacco |
| author_facet | Alberto Fragasso Clara Mannarella Angela Ciancio Oronzo Scarciolla Nicoletta Nuzzolese Rocco Clemente Eustachio Vitullo Andrea Sacco |
| author_sort | Alberto Fragasso |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background. Measurement of serum cobalamin (Cbl) levels is the standard investigation for assessing vitamin B12 deficiency. Falsely increased values of Cbl can be caused by alcoholic liver disease. Measurement of total vitamin B12 serum levels might be misleading in alcoholics, because a tissue metabolic deficiency is possible even with normal serum Cbl levels. Holotranscobalamin (HoloTC), the Cbl metabolically active fraction, is considered as a better index of vitamin B12 deficiency. Methods. For assessing vitamin B12 status, we evaluated 22 adult alcoholic male patients by measuring in parallel serum Cbl, serum folate and red blood cell folate levels, HoloTC levels by the AxSYM assay. Results. HoloTC values were reduced in 3 alcoholics with borderline-low Cbl values. Significant positive correlations were found between serum Cbl and HoloTC levels, serum Cbl and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT). Conclusion. HoloTC measurement is a useful option for assessing vitamin B12 status in alcoholics, particularly in the subjects with borderline Cbl values and may be considered an early marker of vitamin B12 deficiency. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-88589a2d29e649f3865390eb738b4c60 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1537-744X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2012-01-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | The Scientific World Journal |
| spelling | doaj-art-88589a2d29e649f3865390eb738b4c602025-02-03T01:26:13ZengWileyThe Scientific World Journal1537-744X2012-01-01201210.1100/2012/128182128182Holotranscobalamin Is a Useful Marker of Vitamin B12 Deficiency in AlcoholicsAlberto Fragasso0Clara Mannarella1Angela Ciancio2Oronzo Scarciolla3Nicoletta Nuzzolese4Rocco Clemente5Eustachio Vitullo6Andrea Sacco7Hematology Unit, Ospedale Madonna delle Grazie, ASM, Matera, ItalyHematology Unit, Ospedale Madonna delle Grazie, ASM, Matera, ItalyHematology Unit, Ospedale Madonna delle Grazie, ASM, Matera, ItalyHematology Unit, Ospedale Madonna delle Grazie, ASM, Matera, ItalyLaboratory Unit, Ospedale Madonna delle Grazie, ASM, Matera, ItalyInternal Medicine Unit, Ospedale Madonna delle Grazie, ASM, Matera, ItalyLaboratory Unit, Ospedale Madonna delle Grazie, ASM, Matera, ItalyInternal Medicine Unit, Ospedale Madonna delle Grazie, ASM, Matera, ItalyBackground. Measurement of serum cobalamin (Cbl) levels is the standard investigation for assessing vitamin B12 deficiency. Falsely increased values of Cbl can be caused by alcoholic liver disease. Measurement of total vitamin B12 serum levels might be misleading in alcoholics, because a tissue metabolic deficiency is possible even with normal serum Cbl levels. Holotranscobalamin (HoloTC), the Cbl metabolically active fraction, is considered as a better index of vitamin B12 deficiency. Methods. For assessing vitamin B12 status, we evaluated 22 adult alcoholic male patients by measuring in parallel serum Cbl, serum folate and red blood cell folate levels, HoloTC levels by the AxSYM assay. Results. HoloTC values were reduced in 3 alcoholics with borderline-low Cbl values. Significant positive correlations were found between serum Cbl and HoloTC levels, serum Cbl and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT). Conclusion. HoloTC measurement is a useful option for assessing vitamin B12 status in alcoholics, particularly in the subjects with borderline Cbl values and may be considered an early marker of vitamin B12 deficiency.http://dx.doi.org/10.1100/2012/128182 |
| spellingShingle | Alberto Fragasso Clara Mannarella Angela Ciancio Oronzo Scarciolla Nicoletta Nuzzolese Rocco Clemente Eustachio Vitullo Andrea Sacco Holotranscobalamin Is a Useful Marker of Vitamin B12 Deficiency in Alcoholics The Scientific World Journal |
| title | Holotranscobalamin Is a Useful Marker of Vitamin B12 Deficiency in Alcoholics |
| title_full | Holotranscobalamin Is a Useful Marker of Vitamin B12 Deficiency in Alcoholics |
| title_fullStr | Holotranscobalamin Is a Useful Marker of Vitamin B12 Deficiency in Alcoholics |
| title_full_unstemmed | Holotranscobalamin Is a Useful Marker of Vitamin B12 Deficiency in Alcoholics |
| title_short | Holotranscobalamin Is a Useful Marker of Vitamin B12 Deficiency in Alcoholics |
| title_sort | holotranscobalamin is a useful marker of vitamin b12 deficiency in alcoholics |
| url | http://dx.doi.org/10.1100/2012/128182 |
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