Title
A critical evaluation of serum methylmalonic acid and vitamin B12 for the assessment of cobalt deficiency of growing lambs in New Zealand
Document Type
Article
Publication details
Gruner, TM, Sedcole, JR, Furlong, JM & Sykes, AR 2004, 'A critical evaluation of serum methylmalonic acid and vitamin B12 for the assessment of cobalt deficiency of growing lambs in New Zealand', New Zealand Veterinary Journal, vol. 52, no. 3, pp. 137-144.
Abstract
AIM: To derive reference ranges for serum methylmalonic acid
(MMA) for the diagnosis of cobalt/vitamin B12-responsiveness
in lambs and critique existing serum vitamin B12 reference
ranges.
METHODS: Individual animal data from earlier supplementation
trials, involving 225 ewes, 106 suckling lambs, 301 lambs
during the suckling and post-weaning periods and 414 weaned
lambs, for which weight gain to supplementation was observed,
were used to derive relationships between serum vitamin B12
and MMA, and liveweight gain.
RESULTS: Serum MMA concentrations were rarely elevated
above the norm of <2 μmol/L when serum vitamin B12 concentrations
were >375 pmol/L, and not elevated into the range
where a liveweight response to supplementation occurred
(>10 μmol/L) unless serum vitamin B12 concentrations were below
200 pmol/L. Suckling lambs were able to maintain high growth
rates despite elevated serum MMA concentrations (>20 μmol/L).
CONCLUSIONS: The current reference ranges used in New
Zealand for serum vitamin B12 are set conservatively high. Serum
MMA concentrations appear to allow better differentiation
of a responsive condition than vitamin B12 concentrations. Serum
MMA concentrations >13 μmol/L indicate responsiveness
to supplementation whilst concentrations <7 μmol/L indicate
unresponsiveness. In the range 7–13 μmol/L, variation in response
was observed and predictability of response is less certain,
but supplementation is advisable.
CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The current reference ranges for
vitamin B12 responsiveness are conservatively high and lead
to over-diagnosis of vitamin B12 defi ciency in ill-thriftiness of
sheep.