Evaluation of fragility and its relation to the deficiency of vitamin b12 in elderly/AVALIACAO DA FRAGILIDADE E SUA RELACAO COM A DEFICIENCIA DE VITAMINA B12 EM IDOSOS

Although some studies have already shown the relationship between vitamin B12 deficiency and many geriatric syndromes, the association between vitamin B12 deficiency and biological fragility has not been clearly established. In this context, the present study aimed to investigate the frequency of vitamin B12 deficiency in the elderly and its association with biological fragility. This is an observational, cross-sectional study of 64 elderly men and women attending the Geriatrics outpatient clinic of a University Hospital. To classify the fragility, we used the criteria weight loss, weakness, exhaustion, slowness, and low level of activity. Vitamin B12 analysis was performed by quantitative electrochemiluminescence using the Elecsys[R] B12 Immunoassay Kit (Roche, Mannheim, Germany). The results showed that the fragility phenotype in most of the elderly was characterized as fragile or frailty risk. The serum concentrations of vitamin B12 in the sample studied were adequate and showed no significant association with the parameters and fragility phenotypes. Thus, further studies are needed to explore the impact of vitamin B12 deficiency on the health conditions of the elderly person with fragility. Key words: Vitamin B12. Frail elderly. Health of the elderly. Embora alguns estudos ja tenham demonstrado a relacao entre a deficiencia de vitamina B12 e muitas sindromes geriatricas, a associacao entre a deficiencia dessa vitamina e a fragilidade biologica ainda, nao foi claramente estabelecida. Nesse contexto, o presente estudo, teve como objetivo investigar a frequencia da deficiencia de vitamina B12 em idosos e sua associacao com a fragilidade biologica. Trata-se de um estudo observacional, transversal, realizado com 64 idosos, de ambos os sexos, atendidos no ambulatorio de Geriatria de um Hospital Universitario. Para classificar a fragilidade foram utilizados os criterios perda de peso, fraqueza, exaustao, lentidao e baixo nivel de atividade. A analise da vitamina B12 foi realizada pela tecnica quantitativa de eletroquimioluminescencia atraves do Kit Elecsys[R] B12 Imunoensaio (Roche, Mannheim, Germany). Os resultados apontaram que o fenotipo de fragilidade na maioria dos idosos caracterizou-se como fragil ou risco de fragilidade. As concentracoes sericas de vitamina B12 na amostra estudada apresentou-se adequada e nao mostraram associacao significativa com os parametros e fenotipos da fragilidade. Assim, novos estudos sao necessarios, a fim de explorar o impac