Are vitamins B12 causally related to cardiometabolic risk factors and disease?

ISRCTN ISRCTN47414943
DOI https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN47414943
Secondary identifying numbers 123
Submission date
15/11/2017
Registration date
17/11/2017
Last edited
10/07/2018
Recruitment status
No longer recruiting
Overall study status
Completed
Condition category
Circulatory System
Prospectively registered
Protocol
Statistical analysis plan
Results
Individual participant data

Plain English summary of protocol

Background and study aims
Low serum levels of vitamin B12 (vB12) have been associated with increased body mass index (BMI) and with increased cardiometabolic outcomes (risk of having diabetes, heart disease or stroke) in several studies. However, it is unclear what the relationship is between vB12 to cardiometabolic risk factors and diseases. This study aims to investigate if there is a relationship between vB12 and indicators of body fat, lipid and glucose (sugar) levels, type 2 diabetes (a condition where blood sugar levels become uncontrolled) and cardiovascular disease (diseases that involve the heart or blood vessels).

Who can participate?
Those who have participants in a previous genome-wide association study (GWAS)

What does the study involve?
This study uses information from a previous genome-wide associate study (GWAS). The researchers take information about serum levels of vB12. The researchers analyse the relationship between vB12 and cardiometabolic risk factors and diseases using publicly available GWAS summary statistics for 15 outcomes.

What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
There are no benefits or risks of participation

Where is the study run from?
Oslo University Hospital (Norway)

When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
March 2017 to October 2017

Who is funding the study?
Southern and Eastern Norway Regional Health Authority (Norway)

Who is the main contact?
Ms Gunn-Helen Moen
g.h.o.moen@studmed.uio.no

Contact information

Ms Gunn-Helen Moen
Scientific

Oslo University Hospital
Oslo Universitetssykehus, Aker
Trondheimsveien 235
Oslo
0586
Norway

ORCiD logoORCID ID 0000-0002-8768-0904
Phone +47 (0)480 20554
Email g.h.o.moen@studmed.uio.no

Study information

Study designObservational cohort study
Primary study designObservational
Secondary study designCohort study
Study setting(s)Other
Study typeOther
Participant information sheet No participant information sheet available
Scientific titleAre serum levels of vitamin B12 causally related to cardiometabolic risk factors and disease? A Mendelian randomisation study
Study objectivesIs there a causal relationship between vB12 and indicators of body fat, lipid- and glucose parameters, T2D and cardiovascular disease?
Ethics approval(s)Each of the studies used in this project have their own ethical approval and only publicly available data is used
Health condition(s) or problem(s) studiedThe effect of vitamin B12 on cardiometabolic outcomes
Intervention11 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) robustly associated with serum levels of vB12 in a previous genome-wide association study (GWAS) of 45 576 individuals are selected. We performed two sample MR analyses of the relationship between vB12 and cardiometabolic risk factors and diseases using publicly available GWAS summary statistics for 15 outcomes in up to 339224 individuals. Robustness of results is tested with sensitivity analyses using MR Egger regression and Weighted Median estimation, and by performing additional analyses excluding a variant in the FUT2 gene which may be pleiotropic.

This data is taken from publically available summary statistics – which means information regarding genotype/SNP, effect SNP, effect size, standard error, p-values, minor allele frequency etc that is available online.

Summary results statistics on the same SNPs from 15 different GWAS of cardiometabolic outcomes are also taken. The cardiometabolic outcomes are selected on the basis of the following inclusion criteria: the outcome having been associated with vB12 level in observational epidemiological studies and the availability of large meta-GWAS analyses with publicly available summary statistics on the outcome.
Intervention typeGenetic
Primary outcome measure1. Fasting glucose is measured using genetic data from available GWAS
2. Fasting blood insulin is measured using genetic data from available GWAS
3. HOMA-IR is measured using genetic data from available GWAS
4. HOMA-B is measured using genetic data from available GWAS
5. HbA1c is measured using genetic data from available GWAS
6. Total cholesterol is measured using genetic data from available GWAS
7. LDL cholesterol is measured using genetic data from available GWAS
8. HDL cholesterol is measured using genetic data from available GWAS
9. Triglycerides is measured using genetic data from available GWAS
10. BMI is measured using genetic data from available GWAS
11. Waist-hip ratio is measured using genetic data from available GWAS
12. Leptin is measured using genetic data from available GWAS
13. Body fat is measured using genetic data from available GWAS
14. Coronary artery disease is measured using genetic data from available GWAS
15. Type 2 diabetes is measured using genetic data from available GWAS
Secondary outcome measuresThere are no secondary outcome measures
Overall study start date01/03/2017
Completion date15/10/2017

Eligibility

Participant type(s)Other
Age groupAdult
SexBoth
Target number of participantsNumber of participants in the studies used varies
Key inclusion criteriaParticipants in the previous genome-wide association study (GWAS)
Key exclusion criteriaThere is no participant exclusion criteria
Date of first enrolment15/04/2017
Date of final enrolment29/07/2017

Locations

Countries of recruitment

  • Norway

Study participating centre

Oslo University Hospital
Oslo Universitetssykehus, Aker
Trondheimsveien 235
Oslo
0478
Norway

Sponsor information

Oslo University Hospital
Hospital/treatment centre

Oslo Universitetssykehus, Aker
Trondheimsveien 235
Oslo
0586
Norway

ROR logo "ROR" https://ror.org/00j9c2840

Funders

Funder type

Government

Helse Sør-Øst RHF
Government organisation / National government
Alternative name(s)
South-Eastern Norway Regional Health Authority, Southern and Eastern Norway Regional Health Authority, helsesorost, Helse Sør-Øst RHF, sorost
Location
Norway

Results and Publications

Intention to publish date01/03/2018
Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to shareYes
IPD sharing plan summaryAvailable on request
Publication and dissemination planOne article of the results is planned. Mendelian Randomization will be used to answer the question if vitamin B12 is causally related to the different cardiometabolic outcomes.
IPD sharing planAll data are already publically available. The trialists will include a protocol of how they extracted the data in the publication.

Study outputs

Output type Details Date created Date added Peer reviewed? Patient-facing?
Results article results 01/08/2018 Yes No

Editorial Notes

10/07/2018: Publication reference added.
23/11/2017: Internal review.