The association between vitamin B12 and lipid metabolism in patients with ischemic stroke: A cross-sectional study

Ischemic stroke is a life-threatening condition, with high serum cholesterol recognized as a major risk factor. Recent studies suggest that vitamin B12 (VB12) deficiency is associated with changes in lipid metabolism, but its specific role remains unclear.

This study aims to explore the relationship between VB12 levels and lipid metabolism in patients diagnosed with acute ischemic stroke.

This cross-sectional study included 328 patients with acute ischemic stroke hospitalized at the First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University or the First Branch of Chongqing Medical University in Chongqing, China, between January 2023 and December 2023. The results of laboratory assays were measured to examine the association between VB12 levels and lipid metabolism. The analysis utilized chi-square tests, Mann-Whitney U tests, 2-sample t-tests, Kruskal-Wallis H-tests, Spearman rank correlation, and binary logistic regression.

Patients with VB12 levels below 300 pg/mL had significantly higher levels of triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and total cholesterol compared to those with VB12 levels above 300 pg/mL. Furthermore, significant changes in LDL-C levels were observed with varying concentrations of VB12, and VB12 deficiency was significantly associated with atherosclerosis-related lipid risk factors (LDL-C above 1.8 mmol/L and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol below 1.04 mmol/L), indicating a potential link between VB12 levels and lipid metabolism in patients with ischemic stroke.

This study highlights the association between VB12 and lipid metabolism in patients with ischemic stroke, suggesting the importance of considering VB12 levels in clinical practice. These findings provide new insights into the potential role of VB12 in lipid metabolism, which may inform future research on atherosclerosis.