Deficiency of folate and vitamin B₁₂ increases oxidative stress in chronic pancreatitis patients

Folate and vitamin B₁₂ are involved in metabolic reactions for combating oxidative stress. We measured erythrocyte folate and plasma vitamin B₁₂ and compared these with blood antioxidants - erythrocyte glutathione (GSH), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and plasma vitamin C - and marker of lipid peroxidation, thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS), in chronic pancreatitis (CP) patients.

One hundred and seventy-five CP patients (91 tropical, 84 alcoholic) and 113 healthy controls were recruited. Erythrocyte folate and plasma vitamin B₁₂ were measured using microbiological assay, and antioxidant levels and erythrocyte TBARS by spectrophotometry.

Erythrocyte folate and plasma vitamin B₁₂ were significantly lower in CP patients than controls (225.4 ± 9.13 vs. 380.38 ± 17.29 nmol/L, p < 0.001 and 233.23 ± 10.4 vs. 338.84 ± 19.01 pmol/L, p < 0.001), and in diabetic- vs. non-diabetic CP patients. Blood antioxidant levels were significantly lower and TBARS was higher in CP patients as compared to controls. Low folate level correlated with low GSH levels (r = 0.314, p < 0.001). CP patients with low folate and vitamin B₁₂ had low GSH and GPx levels as compared to patients with normal folate and vitamin B₁₂ levels. Low vitamin B₁₂ level was associated with 3.24 (95% CI 1.11-9.46, p < 0.05) fold increased risk of pancreatic insufficiency. Smoking was associated with 9.82 (95% confidence interval [CI] 3.3-29.22, p < 0.05) fold increased risk of having low folate levels.

Low folate and vitamin B₁₂ levels were associated with increased oxidative stress in CP patients.