Written by Jessica Patella, ND. Research shows vitamin B12 is significantly associated with an increase in absenteeism and grade repetition.
In 2010, 32.2 million worldwide primary school children repeated a grade (1, 2). Grade repetition and absenteeism can lead to poor long-term education and economic achievements and can increase the risk of dropping out of school during adolescence (1, 3). Recent research has found a link between vitamin B-12 deficiency and grade repetition and school absenteeism (1).
The research was part of the Bogota School Children Cohort, a long-term study of the nutrition and health in school children of Columbia (1). It included randomly sampled classrooms from all 361 public primary schools in Bogota (grades 0-5). A total of 3156 children from 5-12 years of age were analyzed in the study over one school year (1).
Overall, after one year, the risk of grade repetition was 4.9 % and the absenteeism rate was 3.8 days per child. The risk of grade repetition increased with a decrease in vitamin B-12 status (1). A child with a deficient vitamin B-12 status (less than 148 pmol/L) was at a 3.4 times higher risk of grade repetition than those who were not deficient (95% CI 1.6, 7.4; P-0.002) (1).
A child with deficient vitamin B-12 status (less than 148 pmol/L) had a 1.89 times higher rate of absenteeism than a child who was not deficient (95% CI: 1.53, 2.34; P<0.0001) (1). Anemia, which depending on the type can be due to vitamin B-12 deficiency, was related to a 72% increased absenteeism rate (95% CI: 48%, 99%; P<0.0001) (1).
Researchers hypothesized that increased grade repetition due to a deficiency in vitamin B-12 might be due to the fact that vitamin B-12 intake is associated with improving memory, reasoning and intelligence in school-aged children (1, 4, 5). Therefore, children who are deficient have a more difficult time overall in school.
Vitamin B-12 also plays an important role in the immune system and may help control common colds in school children, therefore resulting in fewer absences (1, 6).
In conclusion, vitamin B-12 deficiency was associated with an increased risk of grade repetition and absenteeism. The researchers suggest either supplementation or increasing vitamin B-12 foods or fortified foods in school lunch programs to improve educational outcomes for children (1). Although the association between vitamin B-12 deficiency and grade repetition and absenteeism was well established, future research with randomized studies is warranted (1) to be sure that other factors are not the cause.
It is important to note vitamin B-12 deficiency is not as common in the United States as it is in Columbia. Research has shown Vitamin B-12 deficiency to be present in less than 1% of children and adolescents in the United States and in 3% or less in children under 4 years of age (the youngest age group reported) (7).
Source: Duong, Minh-Cam, et al. “Vitamin B-12 deficiency in children is associated with grade repetition and school absenteeism, independent of folate, iron, zinc, or vitamin a status biomarkers.” The Journal of nutrition 145.7 (2015): 1541-1548.
© 2015 American Society for Nutrition.
Posted September 3, 2015.
Jessica Patella, ND, is a naturopathic physician specializing in nutrition and homeopathic medicine and offers a holistic approach to health. She earned her ND from Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine in Tempe, AZ, and is a member of the North Carolina Association of Naturopathic Physicians. Visit her website at www.awarenesswellness.com.
References:
- Duong MC, et al. Vitamin B-12 Deficiency in Children is Associated with Grade Repetition and School Absenteeism, Independent of Folate, Iron, Zinc, or Vitamin A Status Biomarkers. 2015 DOI:10.3945/jn.115.211391
- UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Opportunities lost: the impact of grade repetition and early school leaving. Montreal (Quebec): UNESCO, 2012.
- Alexander KA, Entwisle DR, Dauber SL. On the success of failure: a reassessment of the effects of retention in the primary school grades. Cambridge (United Kingdom): Cambridge University Press, 2003.
- Frensham LJ, Bryan J, Parletta N. Influences of micronutrient and omega-3 fatty acid supplementation on cognition, learning, and behavior: methodological considerations and implications for children and adolescents in developed societies. Nutr Rev 2012;70:594–610.
- Allen LH, et al. Cognitive and neuromotor performance of Guatemalan schoolers with deficient, marginal, and normal plasma vitamin B-12. FASEB J 1999;13:A544.
- Webb AL, Villamor E. Update: effects of antioxidant and non-antioxidant vitamin supplementation on immune function. Nutr Rev 2007;65:181–217.
- Allen, L. How common is B-12 deficiency? Am J Clin Nutr February 2009 vol. 89 no. 2 693S-696S doi: 10.3945/ajcn.2008.26947A
