Vitamin B12 Status and Cardiovascular Risk: Novel Insights from NMR-Based Lipoprotein Profiling in 20,665 Adults

Area of Science:

• Cardiovascular Health
• Nutritional Biochemistry
• Lipid Metabolism

Background:

• Vitamin B12 deficiency is prevalent globally, impacting up to 40% of some populations.
• Existing research links vitamin B12 deficiency to increased cardiometabolic risk.
• The precise relationship between vitamin B12 and detailed lipoprotein subfractions requires further elucidation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between serum vitamin B12 levels and atherogenic lipid profiles.
• To utilize NMR-based lipoprotein subfraction analysis for detailed lipid profiling.
• To explore the role of vitamin B12 in cardiovascular risk stratification.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective cross-sectional study of 20,665 apparently healthy adults.
• Serum vitamin B12 levels categorized into quartiles (Q1: ≤328 pg/mL; Q4: ≥540 pg/mL).
• Lipoprotein subfractions quantified via Bruker NMR spectroscopy; Atherogenic Index of Plasma (AIP) calculated.

Main Results:

• Higher vitamin B12 levels correlated with a more favorable lipid profile.
• Progressive decrease in AIP and triglycerides (including VLDL-TG) with increasing vitamin B12.
• Increased HDL-cholesterol and decreased small dense LDL (LDL5-TG) observed with higher vitamin B12 status.
• Associations remained consistent across all age groups.

Conclusions:

• Serum vitamin B12 levels show a significant inverse association with atherogenic lipid parameters.
• Elevated vitamin B12 status is linked to reduced AIP, triglyceride-rich lipoproteins, and small dense LDL.
• Vitamin B12 status may serve as a potential biomarker for cardiovascular risk assessment.