Vitamin B12 status of infants aged 4–12 months with neurodevelopmental abnormalities without any obvious cause and their outcome at 6 months after treatment: A prospective pilot cohort study

Background Developmental disabilities affect millions of children globally, and vitamin B12 deficiency is a potential cause, particularly in Indian infants. Aim This prospective pilot cohort study evaluated vitamin B12 status in infants with neurodevelopmental abnormalities and feeding difficulties and assessed the impact of B12 treatment on their developmental outcomes. Methods Forty infants aged 4–12 months with neurodevelopmental disabilities or feeding difficulties without an obvious cause from the history and clinical examination were enrolled. Infants were divided into two groups based on their serum vitamin B12 levels: deficient and sufficient. All infants received supportive therapy (early stimulation, nutritional counseling, and physiotherapy). Additionally, infants with vitamin B12 deficiency received B12 treatment. Improvements in clinical features, anthropometric status, and developmental scores (using the Developmental Assessment Scale for Indian Infants) were assessed at baseline and after 6 months and compared within the groups. Summary Vitamin B12 deficiency was found in 62.5% ( n = 25) of the infants. Following the intervention, the deficient group showed significant improvements in clinical features, anthropometric measures (weight-for-age, length-for-age, both p < 0.001; and weight-for-length, p = 0.001), as well as developmental assessments (motor and mental quotients, p = 0.011 and p < 0.001, respectively) compared to their baseline values. These improvements were more pronounced in the vitamin B12-deficient group and not in the vitamin B12-sufficient group. Vitamin B12 deficiency may be a common and potentially preventable contributor to developmental delay in this population, underscoring the importance of early identification and treatment.