A New Inflammatory Marker: Vitamin B12

Introduction: For years, decreased vitamin B12 level and its clinical importance have been investigated. ？ncreased vitamin B12 was not fully investigated. However, it has been proposed that increased vitamin B12 is associated with several diseases such as cancer, alcoholism, liver disease. Secretion of ferritin, an acute phase reactant, is controlled via cytokines and it has been established increasing with inflammatory diseases. It has been proved that C-reactive protein (CRP) is a useful marker in several diseases including cancer, cardiovascular diseases and diabetes mellitus. Aim of this study is to investigate whether or not increased vitamin B12 levels are associated with serum ferritin and CRP levels. Materials and Methods: Vitamin B12, ferritin and CRP levels were screened via hospital information system. According to vitamin B12 levels patients were divided into three groups: Low level (Group A), normal level (Group B), high level (Group C). For thousand seven hundred and seven patients were included in study I investigated association between vitamin B12 and ferritin, while 1071 patients were included in study II investigated association between vitamin B12 and CRP. Results: In study I, it has been demonstrated that there is an important difference Group A and C; and Group B and C. In study II, it has been demonstrated that there is an important difference Group A and C; and Group B and C. Conclusions: It has been demonstrated that vitamin B12 level is associated with ferritin and CRP. It has been thought that vitamin B12 levels might be an inflammatory marker