Impact of vitamin B12 deficiency on Hematological parameters and Its relationship with Helicobacter pylori infection in Derna City, Libya

Abstract

This study was conducted to evaluate the alterations in hematological parameters and investigate the pathophysiological relationship between Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection and vitamin B12 deficiency in clinical cases presenting with symptoms associated with cobalamin depletion. A total of 120 adult patients were enrolled and stratified into two distinct groups based on their vitamin B12 status. The first group (vitamin B12-deficient) comprised 36 men (30.0%) and 55 women (45.8%), while the second group (normocobalaminemic controls) consisted of 14 men (11.6%) and 15 women (12.5%). Supervised blood samples were collected from all participants to perform comprehensive laboratory analyses, including a complete blood count (CBC), serum vitamin B12 quantification, and active H. pylori screening.The laboratory findings revealed a profound and statistically significant correlation between active H. pylori infection and systemic vitamin B12 deficiency. Specifically, 45 female patients (81.8%) and 25 male patients (69.4%) who tested positive for vitamin B12 deficiency were concurrently infected with H. pylori. Regarding erythrocyte profiles, hemoglobin (HGB) concentrations and mean corpuscular volume (MCV) were significantly altered in vitamin B12-deficient patients of both sexes compared to the healthy control group. Additionally, a statistically significant decrease in mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH) was observed exclusively among female patients, whereas male subjects demonstrated only a slight, non-significant variance in this parameter. Regarding other blood components, total white blood cell (WBC) counts showed a marginal, non-significant elevation in the deficient cohorts, while mean platelet (PLT) counts and associated platelet indices were lower in both deficient males and females compared to their healthy counterparts. In conclusion, vitamin B12 deficiency represents a highly prevalent yet frequently silent or asymptomatic micronutrient disorder worldwide. Within the evaluated Derna community, this deficiency was found to be widespread across various age groups and both genders. While a systemic shortage of cobalamin exerts negligible effects on total red blood cell, white blood cell, and platelet counts, it induces major diagnostic variations in hemoglobin concentrations, MCV values, and female-specific MCH profiles. These variations are heavily driven by the concurrent high prevalence of H. pylori infections, which chronically compromise gastric absorption pathways.