Total (n = 962)

Normal VitB12 Levels (n = 832)

VitB12 deficiency (n = 130)

Medical history

Age (years) (mean ± SD)

76.38 ± 13.68

76.71 ± 7.34

78.35 ± 8.13^*

Sex: male [n (%)]

454 (47.19)

399 (47.96)

55 (42.31)

Number of chronic diseasesª (mean ± SD)

1.64 ± 0.73

1.41 ± 0.52

1.79 ± 0.85

Symptoms

Memory decline [n (%)]

258 (26.82)

209 (25.12)

49 (37.69) ^*

Fatigue [n (%)]

201 (20.89)

159 (19.11)

42 (32.31) ^*

Unsteadily walking in the darkness [n (%)]

194 (20.17)

158 (18.99)

36 (27.69)^*

Altered sensation in feet on walking [n (%)]

147 (15.28)

125 (15.02)

22 (16.92)

Paresthesia [n (%)]

154 (16.01)

130 (15.62)

24 (18.46)

Dizziness [n (%)]

185 (19.23)

155 (18.63)

30 (23.08)

Neurological signs

Ankle tendon jerk (mean ± SD)

1.58 ± 0.89

1.86 ± 0.77

1.36 ± 0.69

Hypopallesthesia [n (%)]

240 (24.95)

182 (21.88)

45 (34.62)^#

Cognitive impairment

MMSE (mean ± SD)

27.95 ± 6.59

28.41 ± 6.98

26.51 ± 5.95^#

Hematological findings

HGB (g/L) (mean ± SD)

129.57 ± 15.74

130.41 ± 16.24

125.37 ± 16.88^#

MCV (fl) (mean ± SD)

91.61 ± 4.89

91.37 ± 4.39

91.97 ± 5.62

HGB < 120 (g/L) [n (%)]

143 (14.86)

108 (12.98)

35 (26.92)^#

MCV>95 (fl) [n (%)]

121 (12.58)

78 (9.37)

43 (33.08)^#

MCV>95 (fl) + HGB < 120 (g/L) [n (%)]

19 (1.98)

6 (0.72)

13 (10)^#