Vitamin B12 level in peripheral arterial disease

Hyperhomocysteinemia is considered a risk factor for atherosclerosis. Methyltetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene mutation and low level of plasma vitamin B-12 and folate could take part in the etiology of peripheral arterial disease (PAD). We examined whether plasma vitamin B-12 and folate levels and MTHFR-C677T polymorphism are associated with the risk of PAD. The study comprised 293 patients (107 females, 186 males, mean age of 66 +/- SEM0.7 years) and 293 sex-matched control subjects (mean age of 62 +/- SEM0.8 years). We also determined plasma lipid profile, hs-CRP, creatinine, vitamin B-12, folate and total homocysteine (tHcy) for all patients and controls. Odds ratios were non-significant for different genotypes of MTHFR-C677T polymorphism. There was a significant lower level of vitamin B-12 in PAD patients. 43 and 25 % of patient and control populations were in the lowest quartile of vitamin B-12 (<188 pmol/L), respectively. Plasma level of vitamin B-12 in the lowest quartile significantly increased tHcy level in PAD patients, and it was independent of plasma folate level. Low level of plasma vitamin B-12 was independently associated with hyperhomocysteinemia in PAD patients. The prevalence of the MTHFR-C677T mutation was not significantly different in patients with PAD compared with controls.