Serum Vitamin B12 and Folic Acid Levels in Acute Cerebral Atherothrombotic Infarction

Abstract

Hyperhomocysteinemia is an independent risk factor for atherothrombotic cerebral stroke. Vitamin B 12 and folic acid are important determinants of homocysteine metabolism. We aimed to evaluate the relationship, if present, between vitamin B 12 and folic acid levels and acute cerebral stroke in this study. Blood aliquots drawn within 24 hours after the stroke from hospitalized patients (n=66) with the diagnosis of acute ischemic cerebrovascular episode and also blood samples from 38 healthy controls without any vascular risk factor were analyzed. With a competitive, chemoluminescence assay, serum levels of vitamin B 12 and folic acid were measured in blood samples taken within 24 hours after the stroke.The differences and correlations were tested using frequency test, student-t test and multivariate analysis. Mean serum vitamin B 12 levels were significantly lower in the patients than in the control subjects, 245.40 (S.D.: 72.9) and 343.2 (S.D.: 113.0) pg/ml respectively (p=0.0001). This difference was independent from other risk factors. Likewise, mean serum folic acid levels were lower in the patients than in the control subjects, 4.62 (S.D.: 1.94) and 5.97 (S.D.: 1.19) ng/ml, respectively (p=0.003). Mean serum levels of vitamin B 12 and folate at the convalescence phase were 253.05 (S.D.: 68.78) pg/ml and 4.48 (S.D.: 2.08) ng/ml, respectively; the values obtained at the acute phase were not significantly different from the values obtained at the convalescence phase. We conclude that low vitamin B 12 and folic acid concentrations are associated with an increased risk of stroke, and the relationship for vitamin B 12 is independent from the other known modifiable stroke risk factors. For understanding the effects of B 12 and folate in stroke patients, more detailed follow-up studies with long period are needed.hyperhomocysteinemia; B 12 ; folate; atherotrombosis; stroke

Vitamin B 12: the hidden ingredient of stroke

“…Thus, the serum vitamin B12 level was significantly lower in cases than controls (p=0.0001). There were similar conclusions by Kocer et al 8 But unlike in the parent study, the correlation between vitamin B 12 deficiency and age was not statistically significant(p=0.081). In the same study the mean vitamin B12 levels in the case group was 207.13 pg/ml for males and 283.6 pg/ml in females.…”

High Serum Homocysteine Levels Correlate with a Decrease in the Blood Flow Velocity of the Ophthalmic Artery in Highway Toll Collectors

“…Therefore, we believe that the higher serum Hcy level in HTCs was related to exhaust particles and that the lower ocular blood flow was related to a higher serum Hcy level. One criticism of our study is that we did not measure B 12 and folate levels, which previous studies have found to be related to Hcy levels (Cantu et al 2004;Kocer et al 2004); the present study was not originally designed to investigate B 12 and folate levels.…”

B12 Vitamin Eksikliği Olan Hastalarda Kobalamin Tedavisi Öncesi ve Sonrası Ortalama Trombosit Volümünün Değerlendirilmesi

“…A strong relationship was found between the increased MCV level and vitamin B12 level. Vitamin B12 deficiency may have hematologic, neurologic, gastrointestinal and cardiovascular symptoms [16][17][18][19][20] . These symptoms range widely from mild sensory neuropathy, macrocytosis and combined degeneration of the spinal cord to serious conditions such as pancytopenia.…”