Affiliations: Department of Neurology, Soroka Medical Center,
Beer-Sheva, Israel | Department of Neurology, Sourasky Medical Center,
Tel-Aviv, Israel | Department of Pediatrics, Carmel Medical Center,
Haifa, Israel | Department of Family Medicine, Department of Clinical
Biochemistry, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev,
Beer-Sheva, Israel | Department of Epidemiology, Faculty of Health
Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
Note: [] Correspondence: Dr. Rafik Masalha, Department of Neurology
Soroka Medical Center, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the
Negev, P.O. Box 15 1 Beer-Sheva 84101, Israel. E-mail: masalhar@bgu.ac.il
Abstract: Deficiencies of nutrients such as vitamin B12, folic acid and iron
are frequently associated with impairment of memory, concentration and learning
ability. Deficiencies of these micronutrients are very rare in Western
countries, whereas they are common in developing countries. This study was
carried out to determine the impact of vitamin B12 deficiency, folic acid
deficiency and/or anemia on the academic achievement of elementary school
children from a low socio-economic population, i.e., impoverished Bedouin
population living in southern Israel. Sixty-seven elementary school children,
nine to eleven years of age, were randomly tested. Serum levels of vitamin B12,
folic acid, and hemoglobin were measured using automated chemiluminescence
systems. An individual questionnaire was filled out for each student, which
included information on number of meat meals consumed per week, the number of
people in the family and information about the father's employment status.
Significant positive correlations were observed between number of meat meals
consumed per week and low vitamin B12 levels and attainment of low marks in
school, respectively. There was a negative correlation between the total number
of family members and the attainment of low marks in school. No correlation
between anemia or low folic acid levels and school performance was observed.
Despite the small sample number, results indicated a high prevalence of vitamin
B12 deficiency among these elementary school children, which could be linked to
inadequate meat meal intake. This ultimately affected school performance of
these children.
Keywords: Impoverished Bedouin community, school performance, vitamin B12 deficiency
