Does B12 deficiency lead to change in brain metabolites in pediatric population? A MR spectroscopy study

Objectives The aim of this study is to examine metabolite changes in different brain regions of the children with vitamin B12 deficiency disease using MR spectroscopy. Methods Eighteen children with serum vit. B12 deficiency and 12 healthy volunteer children were included in the study. All children were examined with single-voxel spectroscopy examination via 1.5-Tesla MRI. The spectra were obtained from the left frontal periventricular white matter, left lentiform nucleus and left cerebellar hemisphere. The comparisons between patient group and control group were made with ratios calculated as NAA/Cr, Cho/Cr, mI/Cr, and Glx/Cr. All brain images were also examined in terms of brain atrophy, abnormal brain parenchyma intensity changes, or myelination status. Results The children were between 3 months and 16 years old in the patient group, and between 3 months and 15 years old in the control group. There were no statistical differences in terms of metabolite ratios in the three different brain regions between the patients and control group. In two patients, periventricular white matter hyperintensities were observed. In four patients, brain atrophy was detected. Discussion MR spectroscopy examination demonstrated that there were no statistical differences in terms of all metabolite ratios in left frontal periventricular white matter, left lentiform nucleus and left cerebellar hemisphere.