Studying the Correlation between Stroke and Serum Level of Homocysteine, Folic acid and Vitamin B12

Moderately increased concentration of homocysteine without homocystuinoria is associated with increased risk of atherosclerosis, CVA and overall mortality. The most common form of hyperhomocysteinemia is genetic. Increased serum level of homocysteine may reflect deficiency of folate, vitB6 and vitB12. To determine the relationship between serum level of homocysteine, folic acid and vitB12 with CVA, a case control study was done in 2008 in 40 known cases of CVA and 40 control cases among the out patients of neurology clinics in Kashan. 2cc venous blood from each patient was tested for serum level of homocysteine, folic acid and vitB12 (with HPLC). In this study, the mean serum level of homocysteine was 15/56±4/69 µmol/l in our case group and in the control group it was 10/15±4/7 µmol/l. There was a meaningful difference between two groups (P<0/05). The mean serum level of folic acid was 8/405±5/33 ng/ml in the case group and 10/87±8/02ng/ml in the control group. There was a meaningful difference between two groups (P<0.005). The mean serum level of vitB12 in the case group was 389.02±208.02 pg/ml and 522.82±218.3 pg/ml in the control group. There was a meaningful difference between two groups (P<0.05). This study showed that there is a correlation between CVA and serum level of homocysteine, folic acid and vitamin B12. It is recommended to conduct prospective studies to evaluate the cause and effect between these supplements and stroke and practical ways of CVA prevention.