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How does the duration of dialysis therapy affect vitamin B12 levels

7 sources

Assessment of vitamin B12 value with end stage renal disease …

patholjournal

Serum Vitamin B12 Deficiency in Chronic Hemodialysis Patients

pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih

Study of vitamin B12 deficiency in chronic kidney disease

ijmedicine

+4 sources

Answer

The duration of dialysis therapy has a significant negative impact on vitamin B12 levels in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Several studies have demonstrated this relationship:

1. A moderate negative correlation exists between dialysis duration and vitamin B12 levels (rho = -0.259, P=0.029), indicating that longer dialysis duration is associated with lower vitamin B12 levels1.
2. Patients with >3 years of dialysis had significantly lower vitamin B12 levels (161.7 pg/mL) compared to those with ≤3 years of dialysis (251.1 pg/mL), with a p-value of 0.0021.
3. The prevalence of vitamin B12 deficiency tends to increase with the duration of dialysis therapy, making long-term dialysis patients more vulnerable to this deficiency45.
4. In a study of hemodialysis patients, there was a significant association (p= 0.013) between vitamin B12 deficiency and 3-4 years of hemodialysis duration2.

Factors contributing to vitamin B12 depletion in long-term dialysis patients include:

• Nutrient loss during dialysis
• Gastrointestinal absorption issues
• Dietary restrictions
• Medication interactions
• Increased metabolic demands

These findings underscore the importance of regularly monitoring vitamin B12 levels in dialysis patients, especially those undergoing long-term therapy, to prevent deficiency and associated complications.