Diagnostic reliability of serum active B12 (holo-transcobalamin) in true evaluation of vitamin B12 deficiency: Relevance in current perspective

Abstract

Objective: Measurement of total vitamin B12 (vit B12) concentration raised concerns over early detection of vit B12 deficiency due to its clinical unreliability. In this present article we aimed to assess the efficacy of holo-transcobolamin (active vit B12) for true evaluation of vit B12 deficiency.

Methods: This retrospective study included 100 participants referred for vit B12 assay. Serum total vit B12, active vit B12 and homocysteine were estimated.

Results: Our study showed 59% of the total participants with vit B12 deficiency (185 ± 64.62 pg/ml) and 18% with hyper-cobalaminemia (1666.9 ± 367.13 pg/ml) based on their total vit B12 concentrations. A comparative study on total vit B12 and active vit B12 was done which reflected a striking disparity in results. Active vit B12 reported 28.8% patients with vit B12 deficiency (19.8 ± 17.48 pg/ml) and only 16.6% patients with hyper-cobalaminemia (224.14 ± 10 pg/ml). Active vit B12 appeared to be more sensitive (82.35% vs 65%) and specific (46.6% vs. 43.8%) diagnostic marker compared to total vit B12. Pearson Correlation study indicated a strong positive correlation (r = 0.695 at p < 0.01) hence justified use of the two methods.

Conclusion: We claim that active vit B12 is a much more reliable biomarker than total vit B12 for early diagnosis of vit B12 deficiency.

Keywords: Diagnostic blind spot; Haptocorrin; Holo-transcobalamin; Homocysteine; Transcobalamin; Vitamin B12 deficiency.

Fig. 1

Active B12 concentration in group I (H: High), group II (S: Sufficient) and group III (D: Deficient) participants.

Fig. 2

Scatter plot between total B12 and active B12 showed a significant positive correlation at 0.01