An update on vitamin B12-related gene polymorphisms and B12 status.

Vitamin B12 is an essential micronutrient in humans needed for health maintenance. Deficiency of vitamin B12 has been linked to dietary, environmental and genetic factors. Evidence for the genetic basis of vitamin B12 status is poorly understood. However, advancements in genomic techniques have increased the knowledge-base of the genetics of vitamin B12 status. Based on the candidate gene and genome-wide association (GWA) studies, associations between genetic loci in several genes involved in vitamin B12 metabolism have been identified. The objective of this literature review was to identify and discuss reports of associations between single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in vitamin B12 pathway genes and their influence on the circulating levels of vitamin B12. Relevant articles were obtained through a literature search on PubMed through to May 2017. An article was included if it examined an association of a SNP with serum or plasma vitamin B12 concentration. Beta coefficients and odds ratios were used to describe the strength of an association, and a  < 0.05 was considered as statistically significant. Two reviewers independently evaluated the eligibility for the inclusion criteria and extracted the data. From 23 studies which fulfilled the selection criteria, 16 studies identified SNPs that showed statistically significant associations with vitamin B12 concentrations. Fifty-nine vitamin B12-related gene polymorphisms associated with vitamin B12 status were identified in total, from the following populations: African American, Brazilian, Canadian, Chinese, Danish, English, European ancestry, Icelandic, Indian, Italian, Latino, Northern Irish, Portuguese and residents of the USA. Overall, the data analyzed suggests that ethnic-specific associations are involved in the genetic determination of vitamin B12 concentrations. However, despite recent success in genetic studies, the majority of identified genes that could explain variation in vitamin B12 concentrations were from Caucasian populations. Further research utilizing larger sample sizes of non-Caucasian populations is necessary in order to better understand these ethnic-specific associations

Reactive oxygen species and cerebrovascular diseases

In the normal physiologic state, reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation is intentional and important for the functioning of cerebral and systemic circulations. Furthermore, emerging evidence indicates that cerebral arteries generate higher levels of ROS than arteries outside of the brain in the normal physiologic state. As such, it has been proposed that ROS may play a more prominent role in the physiologic regulation of cerebral arteries. There are numerous potential enzymatic sources of ROS in the cerebral vasculature; however, increasing evidence indicates that the family of NADPH oxidases is a major source. Aberrant redox signaling or oxidative stress in the cerebral circulation, usually as a result of excessive production of ROS and reactive nitrogen species (RNS), is a common feature in diverse models of cardiovascular risk factors (e.g., hypertension, hypercholesterolemia) and cerebrovascular disease. Furthermore, oxidative stress is now believed to be an underlying cause of cerebrovascular dysfunction and damage associated with these disease states. In this chapter, we summarize the effects and potential roles of ROS/RNS in modulating cerebral artery function in the normal physiologic state, with a particular focus on their roles in modulating cerebrovascular tone. Furthermore, we will highlight current evidence for the involvement of ROS/RNS in cerebrovascular dysfunction associated with cardiovascular risk factors, stroke, and Alzheimer's disease