Relationship between Smoking Status, Vitamin B12 and Folic acid, with Homocysteine in Patients with Ischemic Stroke

Homocysteine has been proposed as a potential risk factor for atherosclerosis. Numerous factors increase the level of homocysteine, among which is vitamin B12 and folic acid deficiency and smoking. The aim of the present study was to study the relationship between smoking status, vitamin B12 and folic acid with homocysteine in patients with ischemic stroke. In a cross-sectional study through simple random sampling, 46 patients with ischemic stroke aged 45-75years admitted in neurology ward of Emam Khomeini hospital in Tabriz were recruited. Moreover, 46 healthy individuals with matched age and sex were studied. Blood sampling was performed in order to measure the levels of homocysteine, vitamin B12 and folic acid. The mean serum homocysteine level was 18.68±1.53 μmol/L in the patient group which was significantly higher than that in the control group (9.96±0.19 μmol/L). Anthropometric profiles (weight and wrist circumstance) and body mass index were inversely correlated with the serum homocysteine level. Furthermore, significant difference was found in the mean number of exercise per week between the control (2.95±0.50) and patient groups (0.42±0.21). In addition, the mean years of cigarette smoking in control group (0.36±0.26) was significantly less than that in the patient group (9.67±1.67). Insufficient intake of folic acid and vitamin B12 along with cigarette smoking increase the serum level of homocysteine and subsequently increase probability of ischemic stroke.