ASSESSMENT OF SERUM COBALAMIN AND RED CELL FOLATE LEVELS AMONG PSYCHIATRIC PATIENTS IN UNIVERSITY OF ILORIN TEACHING HOSPITAL, ILORIN

Abstract

INTRODUCTION : Chemical imbalances, especially B vitamin deficiencies have been observed in patients with mental disorders; it is therefore important to put all efforts in place to ensure that deficiencies of these vitamins are prevented. It is also important to diagnose possible deficiencies early, to avert clinical manifestations.

OBJECTIVES : This study determined the serum cobalamin, RBC folate and haemogram of patients attending psychiatric clinic in UITH, Ilorin. Their blood films were also examined, to determine the presence of neutrophil hypersegmentation or macrocytosis
METHODOLOGY : It was a cross-sectional descriptive case-control study of three sets of participants, including sixty-six each of psychiatric patients on psychotropic drugs, psychiatric patients who are psychotropic drug-naïve and healthy controls. Blood samples of the two groups of psychiatric patients were assessed and compared with controls who had been certified free of psychiatric illness, using the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ 12). Data from this study was analysed using Epi info version 3.5.1 statistical software package. The mean values of the parameters in the three groups were calculated and statistical significance was tested at predetermined P value of <0.05.
RESULTS : The mean serum cobalamin value in psychiatric patients on psychotropic drug, psychiatric patients who are psychotropic drug-naïve and healthy controls are (16.84 ± 0.73)pmol/l , (16.79 ± 1.17)pmol/l and (16.77 ± 0.89)pmol/l respectively, with p-value of 0.641; while the mean RBC folate values in these set of participants was (37.17 ±0.70)nmol/l, (35.23 ±0.54)nmol/l, and (37.07 ± 0.51)nmol/l respectively, with p-value of 0.002. The prevalence of folate deficiency in newly diagnosed psychiatric patients, those on treatment and controls in this study is 13.6%, 4.5% and 3% respectively but none of the participants had serum cobalamin level below the reference interval.
CONCLUSION : Cobalamin levels in all participants were within reference interval, while folate deficiency was observed more in newly diagnosed patients with schizophrenia. Blood film of a few of these patients also showed neutrophil hypersegmentation and macrocytosis.

ASSESSMENT OF SERUM COBALAMIN AND RED CELL FOLATE LEVELS AMONG PSYCHIATRIC PATIENTS IN UNIVERSITY OF ILORIN TEACHING HOSPITAL, ILORIN