scholarly journals Genetically predicted circulating B vitamins in relation to digestive system cancers

Author(s):  
Shuai Yuan ◽  
Paul Carter ◽  
Mathew Vithayathil ◽  
Siddhartha Kar ◽  
Amy M. Mason ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Folate, vitamin B6 and vitamin B12 have been associated with digestive system cancers. We conducted a two-sample Mendelian randomisation study to assess the causality of these associations. Methods Two, one and 14 independent single nucleotide polymorphisms associated with serum folate, vitamin B6 and vitamin B12 at the genome-wide significance threshold were selected as genetic instruments. Summary-level data for the associations of the vitamin-associated genetic variants with cancer were obtained from the UK Biobank study including 367,561 individuals and FinnGen consortium comprising up to 176,899 participants. Results Genetically predicted folate and vitamin B6 concentrations were not associated with overall cancer, overall digestive system cancer or oesophageal, gastric, colorectal or pancreatic cancer. Genetically predicted vitamin B12 concentrations were positively associated with overall digestive system cancer (ORSD, 1.12; 95% CI 1.04, 1.21, p = 0.003) and colorectal cancer (ORSD 1.16; 95% CI 1.06, 1.26, p = 0.001) in UK Biobank. Results for colorectal cancer were consistent in FinnGen and the combined ORSD was 1.16 (95% CI 1.08, 1.25, p < 0.001). There was no association of genetically predicted vitamin B12 with any other site-specific digestive system cancers or overall cancer. Conclusions These results provide evidence to suggest that elevated serum vitamin B12 concentrations are associated with colorectal cancer.

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Heffernan ◽  
Leanne C. Doherty ◽  
Roberta Hack Mendes ◽  
Michelle Clarke ◽  
Stephanie Hodge ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Older adults are reported to have sub-optimal B vitamin status; targeted food-based solutions may help to address this. The objectives of the OptiAge food intervention study were to develop and investigate the effectiveness of a B vitamin-fortified drink in improving B vitamin biomarkers in older Irish adults with a primary outcome of change in the B vitamin biomarker status. Methods A double-blinded randomised controlled trial was performed in parallel at University College Dublin and Ulster University. Participants aged > 50 years were recruited following screening for exclusion criteria (i.e. taking medications known to interfere with B vitamin metabolism, supplements containing B vitamins, consuming > 4 portions of B vitamin-fortified foods per week or diagnosed with gastrointestinal, liver or pulmonary disease). Recruited participants meeting the inclusion criteria were randomised (by sex and study centre) to receive daily for 16 weeks either B vitamin-fortified or placebo drinks as developed by Smartfish, Norway. Each B vitamin-fortified drink (200 ml) contained 200 µg folic acid, 10 µg vitamin B12, 10 mg vitamin B6 and 5 mg riboflavin, while the placebo was an identical, isocaloric formulation without added B vitamins. Fasting blood samples were collected pre- and post-intervention which were used to measure the primary outcome of change in B vitamin biomarker levels. Results A total of 95 participants were randomised, of which 81 commenced the trial. Of these, 70 completed (37 in the active and 33 in the placebo groups). Intention to treat (ITT) analysis of the B vitamins demonstrated a significant improvement in all B vitamin biomarkers in the active compared to placebo groups: p < 0.01 for each of serum folate, serum vitamin B12 and plasma pyridoxal 5′-phosphate (vitamin B6) and the functional riboflavin biomarker, erythrocyte glutathione reductase activation coefficient (EGRac). Correspondingly, a significant lowering of serum homocysteine from 11.9 (10.3–15.1) µmol/L to 10.6 (9.4–13.0) µmol/L was observed in response to the active treatment (P < 0.001). Similar results were seen in a per-protocol analysis. Conclusions The results demonstrate that a B vitamin-fortified drink was effective in optimising B vitamin status, making this a useful intervention option to improve B vitamin status in older adults. Trial registration ISRCTN, ISRCTN61709781—Retrospectively registered, https://www.isrctn.com/ISRCTN61709781


PEDIATRICS ◽  
1972 ◽  
Vol 50 (4) ◽  
pp. 584-589
Author(s):  
Ambadas Pathak ◽  
Herman A. Godwin ◽  
Luis M. Prudent

The relationship of serum vitamin B12 and folic acid was studied in 24 premature infants. In 14 of the 24, low serum vitamin B12 values were found around 40 days of age. Serum folic acid concentrations were less frequently depressed and were usually associated with normal red cell folate values. No correlation between hematocrits and vitamin B12 or folate levels was found. It is suggested that low concentrations of serum folate and vitamin B12 result from low dietary intake coupled with increased demand by the prematurely born infant.


Author(s):  
Tuphan Kanti Dolai ◽  
Somnath Mondal ◽  
Manisha Jain ◽  
Prakas Kumar Mandal

Background: Tribal population in West Bengal constitutes a significant proportion (5.1%) and the vulnerable group because of lower socio-economic status, poor literacy rate and malnutrition. The present study was conducted to evaluate hemoglobin level and prevalence of anemia among the tribal children from the western districts of West Bengal, India.Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on school going (class I to class VIII) tribal children (≥5 to <13years) during March 2019 to February 2020. A complete blood count was done by automated blood cell counter and anemia was classified as per WHO criteria.  They were also tested for markers of common nutritional anemias (serum ferritin, serum vitamin B12 and serum folate). Data entry and analysis was done on SPSS version 15. A p-value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant.Results: Total 1, 010 tribal children were included with male:female=1:1.35. Among these, 46.34% (n=468) children had anemia. Among all anemic children 47.65% (n=223), 51.93% (n=243/468) and 0.42% (n=2) respectively had mild, moderate and severe anemia. There was a high prevalence (81.68%) of microcytic red blood cells in the total cohort; among anemic children, 53.94% have microcytosis while no macrocytosis was revealed. Among all grade anemias, iron, folate and vitamin B12 deficiency were found in 44.65% (n=209/468), 13.24% (n=62/468) and 25% (n=117/468) respectively.Conclusions: The prevalence of anemia among tribal children of West Bengal is a matter of concern. The high prevalence of microcytic indices in non-anemic population highlights the dire need for screening for the causes of anemia in this population. 


Author(s):  
Dimitrios Kazantzis ◽  
Panagiotis Theodossiadis ◽  
Christos Kroupis ◽  
George Theodossiadis ◽  
Irini Chatziralli

Abstract Purpose To evaluate the association between serum vitamin B12/folate and retinal vein occlusion (RVO). Methods A comprehensive search of the PubMed database was performed, which identified 271 abstracts to be screened. Ten studies met our inclusion criteria and a meta-analysis of these comparative case-control studies was performed on the mean ± standard deviation serum vitamin B12 and folate levels, without language restrictions. Nine studies with 720 patients with RVO and 613 controls were included in the meta-analysis for vitamin B12, and 10 studies with 784 patients with RVO and 677 controls in the meta-analysis for folate. Results There was no statistically significant difference between patients with RVO and controls in serum vitamin B12 levels (mean difference: − 40.25 pg/mL, p = 0.28), either central RVO (mean difference: − 18.24 pg/mL, p = 0.71) or branch RVO (mean difference: − 23.56 pg/mL, p = 0.48). On the contrary, the plasma folate level was significantly lower in RVO patients than in controls (mean difference: − 1.34 ng/mL, p = 0.001), as well as in patients with CRVO compared to controls (mean difference: − 1.48 ng/mL, p = 0.006), but not in BRVO patients (mean difference: − 0.72 ng/mL, p = 0.11). Conclusions RVO is associated with low serum folate levels, but not with serum vitamin B12 levels.


2019 ◽  
Vol 44 (5) ◽  
pp. 661-666
Author(s):  
Dilber Çoban Ramazan ◽  
Ülker Anadol ◽  
A. Destina Yalçın ◽  
A. Süha Yalçın

Abstract Objective Homocysteine is a sulfur containing amino acid that is formed during methionine metabolism. Patients under long-term antiepileptic drug treatment often have hyperhomocysteinemia. These patients have low levels of serum folate, vitamin B12 and vitamin B6, all of which are associated with homocysteine metabolism. We have investigated the effects of valproic acid and new generation antiepileptic drugs (lamotrigine and levetiracetam) on plasma levels of homocysteine and aminothiols as well as serum vitamin B12 and folic acid. Materials and methods Forty-seven idiopathic epileptic patients on antiepileptic drugs were compared with 38 age-matched healthy controls. Commercial immunoassay methods were used for vitamin B12 and folic acid analyses. Homocysteine, cysteine, cysteinylglycine and glutathione levels were determined by high performance liquid chromatography. Results There was no significant difference in patient and control values in terms of vitamin B12, folic acid and homocysteine. Valproic acid and lamotrigine seemed to effect aminothiol redox status. Glutathione levels of epileptic patients receiving valproic acid and lamotrigine were higher than controls. Conclusion Our results suggest that redox homeostasis may be impaired and glutathione synthesis increased in response to the oxidative stress caused by antiepileptic drug use.


The Lancet ◽  
1995 ◽  
Vol 346 (8967) ◽  
pp. 85-89 ◽  
Author(s):  
H.J. Naurath ◽  
E. Joosten ◽  
R. Riezler ◽  
S. Stabler ◽  
R.H. Allen ◽  
...  

Pteridines ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 122-127
Author(s):  
Bakhouche Houcher ◽  
Mirande Candito ◽  
Pierre Gibelin

Abstract Elevated plasma total homocysteine (tHcy) is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD). Also known is that plasma folate and vitamin B12 influence homocysteine metabolism as cosubstrate and cofactor, respectively. This population-based study was conducted to evaluate the plasma concentrations of tHcy, folate, and vitamin B12 in 54 older patients aged ≥51 years (40 males; 14 females) of Nice hospital cardiology service. After excluding cases with a serum creatinine >120 mmol/L, we established the test properties of a plasma tHcy concentration <15 μmol/L (Group 1) or ≥15 μmol/L (Group 2). In the population aged ≥51 years, plasma tHcy was higher in women (18.0 μmol/L) than in men (15.5 μmol/L; not significant), conversely, serum vitamin B12 was higher in men (376.9 pg/ml) than in women (340.7 pg/ml; not significant). Average plasma tHcy was 11.5 μmol/L in Group 1 and 21.6 μmol/L in Group 2. Vice versa, serum vitamin B12 was higher in Group 1 (419.5 pg/ml) than in Group 2 (307.2 pg/ml) (p <0.05). Correlation analysis (Pearson's r) in the total study population (20-84 years) indicated an inverse correlation between serum folate and age (r = -0.231, p <0.05). In the subjects, aged ≥51 years, there was a significant negative correlation between age and tHcy levels (r = -0.283, p <0.05) and serum vitamin B12 concentrations (r = -0.326, p <0.01) but not with serum folate. However, in subjects with tHcy <15 μmol/L, a significant inverse correlation existed between plasma tHcy and serum folate (r = -0.455; p <0.05). In conclusion, these results highlight the relevance of the vitamin status and particularly of folate levels in the modulation of fasting tHcy levels in the patients with clinical hyperhomocysteinemia, defined as plasma tHcy >15 μmol/L.


Blood ◽  
1984 ◽  
Vol 63 (4) ◽  
pp. 779-783
Author(s):  
J Zittoun ◽  
JP Farcet ◽  
J Marquet ◽  
C Sultan ◽  
R Zittoun

Serum cobalamin (vitamin B12) and unsaturated B12 binding capacity (UBBC) have been measured in 24 cases of hypereosinophilia: 16 were cases of hypereosinophilic syndrome (HES) and 8 of secondary eosinophilia. The two groups were similar with respect to absolute eosinophil counts. Serum cobalamin and UBBC were found to be markedly increased in most cases of HES and normal in secondary eosinophilia. This elevation of UBBC was mainly related to the increase of R binders (transcobalamins I and III). The elevated serum cobalamin and R binders in HES were due neither to a higher intracellular content of R binders nor to an increased release of these binders from eosinophils of HES. Pure fractions of eosinophils obtained from HES and secondary eosinophilia did not exhibit any difference in vitamin B12 binders. On the other hand, neutrophil-rich fractions from the same patients showed a higher content of intracellular B12 binding proteins than pure eosinophil fractions, irrespective of the cause of eosinophilia. These findings suggest that the increased serum vitamin B12 and UBBC could reflect an expanded pool of both eosinophils and neutrophils in HES and, thus, provide an additional argument for the inclusion of this syndrome in the group of myeloproliferative disorders.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document