Vitamin B12 and Folate as Risk Factors for Retinal Vein Occlusion: A Meta-Analysis

Abstract

Purpose To evaluate the association between serum vitamin B12/folate and retinal vein occlusion (RVO).

Methods A comprehensive search of the PubMed database was performed, which identified 271 abstracts to be screened. Ten studies met our inclusion criteria and a meta-analysis of these comparative case-control studies was performed on the mean ± standard deviation serum vitamin B12 and folate levels, without language restrictions. Nine studies with 720 patients with RVO and 613 controls were included in the meta-analysis for vitamin B12, and 10 studies with 784 patients with RVO and 677 controls in the meta-analysis for folate.

Results There was no statistically significant difference between patients with RVO and controls in serum vitamin B12 levels (mean difference: − 40.25 pg/mL, p = 0.28), either central RVO (mean difference: − 18.24 pg/mL, p = 0.71) or branch RVO (mean difference: − 23.56 pg/mL, p = 0.48). On the contrary, the plasma folate level was significantly lower in RVO patients than in controls (mean difference: − 1.34 ng/mL, p = 0.001), as well as in patients with CRVO compared to controls (mean difference: − 1.48 ng/mL, p = 0.006), but not in BRVO patients (mean difference: − 0.72 ng/mL, p = 0.11).

Conclusions RVO is associated with low serum folate levels, but not with serum vitamin B12 levels.

Zusammenfassung

Zweck Bewertung des Zusammenhangs zwischen Serumvitamin B₁₂/Folsäure und Netzhautvenenverschluss (NVV).

Methoden Eine umfassende Suche in der PubMed-Datenbank wurde durchgeführt und ergab 271 zu überprüfende Abstracts. Zehn Studien erfüllten unsere Einschlusskriterien und eine Metaanalyse dieser vergleichenden Fallkontrollstudien mit Angaben zum Mittelwert ± Standardabweichung der Vitamin-B₁₂- und Folatspiegel im Serum wurde ohne sprachliche Einschränkungen durchgeführt. Insbesondere wurden 9 Studien mit 720 Patienten mit NVV und 613 Kontrollen in die Metaanalyse für Vitamin B₁₂ und 10 Studien mit 784 Patienten mit NVV und 677 Kontrollen in die Metaanalyse für Folsäure einbezogen.

Ergebnisse Es gab keinen statistisch signifikanten Unterschied zwischen Patienten mit NVV und Kontrollen hinsichtlich der Vitamin-B₁₂-Spiegel im Serum (mittlerer Unterschied: − 40,25 pg/ml, p = 0,28), weder zentraler NVV (mittlerer Unterschied: − 18,24 pg/ml, p = 0,71) oder Verzweigungs-NVV (mittlere Differenz: − 23,56 pg/ml, p = 0,48). Im Gegensatz dazu war der Plasmafolatspiegel bei NVV-Patienten signifikant niedriger als bei Kontrollen (mittlerer Unterschied: − 1,34 ng/ml, p = 0,001) sowie bei Patienten mit zentralem NVV im Vergleich zu Kontrollen (mittlerer Unterschied: − 1,48 ng/ml, p = 0,006), jedoch nicht bei Verzweigungs-NVV (mittlere Differenz: − 0,72 ng/ml, p = 0,11).

Schlussfolgerungen NVV ist mit niedrigen Serumfolatspiegeln assoziiert, nicht jedoch mit Serumvitamin B₁₂.

Key words

retinal vein occlusion - vitamin B12 - B9 - folate

Schlüsselwörter

Netzhautvenenverschluss - Vitamin B₁₂ - B₉ - Folat

Publication History

Received: 12 December 2020

Accepted: 26 February 2021

Article published online:
17 May 2021

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