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Archives of Disease in Childhood 1997;77:137-139; doi:10.1136/adc.77.2.137
Copyright © 1997 BMJ Publishing Group Ltd & Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health.
Arch Dis Child 1997;77:137-139 ( August )

Persistence of neurological damage induced by dietary vitamin B-12 deficiency in infancy

Ursula von Schenck, Christine Bender-Götze, Berthold Koletzko

Kinderpoliklinik, Klinikum Innenstadt der Ludwig-Maximilians- Universität, Pettenkoferstrasse 8a, D-80336 Munich, Germany

Correspondence to: Professor Koletzko.

Accepted 9 April 1997

A case is reported of a 14 month old boy with severe dietary vitamin B-12 deficiency caused by his mother's vegan diet. Cinical, electroencephalography (EEG), and haematological findings are described. Cranial magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed severe frontal and frontoparietal cranial atrophy. Vitamin B-12 supplements led to a rapid improvement of haematological and neurological symptoms. Serum vitamin B-12 and urinary methylmalonate excretion were normal 10 days after treatment began. After six weeks, EEG was normal and cranial MRI after 10 weeks showed complete disappearance of all structural abnormalities. Cognitive and language development, however, remained seriously retarded at the age of 2 years. It is concluded that infantile vitamin B-12 deficiency induced by maternal vegan diets may cause lasting neurodisability even though vitamin B-12 supplementation leads to rapid resolution of cerebral atrophy and electroencephalographic abnormality.

Keywords: cobalamine deficiency; vegetarian diets; vegan diets; psychomotor development

© 1997 by Archives of Disease in Childhood
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