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Association between B-group vitamins and venous thrombosis: systematic review and meta-analysis of epidemiological studies

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Abstract

A homocysteine-independent role for B-group vitamins on venous thrombosis (VT) development has been reported. However, related research findings remain inconsistent. PUBMED, EMBASE, and COCHRANE databases were searched to collect information on all eligible studies to make a meta-analysis about the relationship between B-group vitamins and VT. Literature search results did not suggest a correlation between thiamin, pantothenic acid, niacin, or riboflavin with VT. Based on their correlations in the literature, folic acid, vitamin B12, B6 were considered in the meta-analysis and systematic review. Significant standardized mean differences were obtained for plasma folic acid (−0.55; 95 % CI, −0.75 to −0.36) and vitamin B12 (−0.34; 95 % CI, −0.55 to −0.13). Reduced levels of folic acid and vitamin B12 may be independent risk factors of VT. Moreover, a qualitative systematic review indicated that low level of vitamin B6 was an independent risk factor of VT. Randomized clinical studies of B-group vitamins supplementation showed varying results on VT prevention. Multivitamin supplementation for VT prevention, regardless of homocysteine level, would be of interest. Further prospective clinical studies are needed to provide additional evidence on the clinical benefits of B-group vitamin supplementation for VT.

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Acknowledgments

This study was sponsored by the Major Program of the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 81090414) and the National Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars (Grant No. 81025011).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Hematology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, Hubei, People’s Republic of China

    Kuangguo Zhou, Lijun Jiang, Yang Cao, Danmei Xu, Liang Huang & Jianfeng Zhou

  2. Department of Chemistry, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH, 03755, USA

    Ruizhi Zhao

  3. Department of Pediatrics, Hubei Maternal and Child Health Hospital, Wuhan, 430030, Hubei, People’s Republic of China

    Zhe Geng

  4. Department of Immunology, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, Hubei, People’s Republic of China

    Yin Liu

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  1. Kuangguo Zhou
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Correspondence to Liang Huang.

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Zhou, K., Zhao, R., Geng, Z. et al. Association between B-group vitamins and venous thrombosis: systematic review and meta-analysis of epidemiological studies. J Thromb Thrombolysis 34, 459–467 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11239-012-0759-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11239-012-0759-x

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