Comparison of serum lipid parameters and serum vitamin B12 levels

DOI: 10.4328/JCAM.5882 Received: 17.04.2018 Accepted: 07.05.2018 Published Online: 08.05.2018 Printed: 01.03.2019 J Clin Anal Med 2019;10(2): 198-201 Corresponding Author: Yılmaz Sezgin, Department of Family Medicine, University of Health Science, İstanbul Educational Research Hospital, Fatih, 34098, İstanbul, Turkey. GSM: +905383425644 E-Mail: drysezgin@gmail.com ORCID ID: 0000-0002-3626-0264 Abstract Aim: We think that vitamin B12 may affect serum lipid parameters because it is a cofactor of the enzyme that plays a role in fatty acid catabolism, and also because of its association with obesity and increased risk of myocardial infarction in its deficiency. In this study, we aimed to investigate whether vitamin B12 insufficiency, which is common and associated with many diseases, is related to serum lipid parameters. Material and Method: This is a cross-sectional retrospective study. In this retrospective study, data such as serum vitamin B12, glucose, lipid, thyroid function tests, ferritin, and demographic data such as age and gender, were obtained from records of the examinations of the patients who applied to the family medicine clinics, at the northern region in Turkey. The study included 228 patients who underwent concurrent lipid and vitamin B12 analysis and who met the inclusion criteria. Patients who met the exclusion criteria were not included in the study. Results: There was a statistically significant, low positive correlation (r = 0.278, p = 0.001, n = 228) between serum HDL and vitamin B12 levels. There was a statistically significant low negative correlation (r = 0.322, p = 0.001, n = 228) between serum triglycerides and vitamin B12 levels. Discussion: As a result, we can say that serum vitamin B12 levels affect lipid parameters. We may suggest that the risk of diabetes, obesity, and coronary artery disease may increase due to high triglyceride or low HDL levels in the absence of vitamin B12.