Vitamin B12 level and grip strength in adult patients with leukemia from a hospital in Lima in the year 2025

Pantoja Rojas M.M.; Guzmán Mallqui J.L.; Núñez Barrón C.C. · Nutricion Clinica y Dietetica Hospitalaria (2026) · DOI: 10.12873/ncdh-2026-63

Resumen

Introduction: Leukemia is a hematologic malignancy characterized by the uncontrolled proliferation of immature cells in the bone marrow, impairing the normal production of blood cells. In Peru, it is the sixth most common type of cancer, and its management is limited by unequal access to specialized healthcare services. Factors such as nutritional and functional status influence prognosis. Handgrip strength is a clinical indicator of muscle mass and a predictor of disease outcomes, while vitamin B12 is essential for DNA synthesis and neuromuscular function. Vitamin B12 deficiency may exacerbate functional decline in patients with cancer. Objective: To determine the relationship between vitamin B12 levels and handgrip strength in adult patients with leukemia hospitalized at a social security hospital in Lima, Peru, in 2025. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional, observational, and analytical study was conducted in 157 patients selected through simple random sampling. Serum vitamin B12 levels were measured using a chemiluminescent immunoassay, and handgrip strength was assessed with a handheld dynamometer. Nonparametric statistical tests (Mann–Whitney U test and Spearman’s rank correlation) were applied. Although the cross-sectional design allows the identification of associations, it does not permit causal inferences. Results: All patients (100%) had low vitamin B12 levels: 40.1% had vitamin B12 deficiency and 59.9% had vitamin B12 insufficiency. The median handgrip strength was 21 kg. Patients with vitamin B12 deficiency exhibited lower handgrip strength (19 kg; IQR: 18–20) compared with those with vitamin B12 insufficiency (22 kg; IQR: 21–23), with a statistically significant difference (p < 0.001; r = 0.82). A very strong positive correlation was observed (Spearman’s rho = 0.981; p < 0.001). However, this finding should be interpreted with caution because no participants had normal vitamin B12 levels, restricting the variable’s range and potentially inflating the strength of the statistical association. Therefore, these results should be considered exploratory rather than conclusive and require confirmation through further studies. Conclusion: Vitamin B12 deficiency is associated with lower handgrip strength in adult patients with leukemia. Routine assessment of vitamin B12 status and handgrip strength may be valuable for comprehensive patient management; however, longitudinal studies are needed to confirm the direction and magnitude of this association.

Instituciones: Universidad San Ignacio de Loyola