Arachidonate 12/15-lipoxygenase (12/15-LOX) is a member of the lipid peroxidizing enzyme family and plays a major role in atherosclerosis. The present study aimed to evaluate whether or not the ALOX15 gene polymorphism is involved in ischemic stroke in northern Chinese Han population. Participants in a case-control study included 396 patients (239 males, 157 females) with ischemic stroke and 360 healthy subjects (211 males, 149 females). The rs7217186 polymorphism of the ALOX15 gene was analyzed by polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism, while the rs2619112 polymorphism of the ALOX15 gene was analyzed by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry. The frequencies of the CC genotype and the C allele of rs7217186 were higher in participants with ischemic stroke than in the control group [P = 0.014 in males, P = 0.007 in atherosclerosis ischemic stroke (ACI)]. The frequencies of the AA genotype and the A allele of rs2619112 were higher in participants with ischemic stroke than in the control group (P = 0.011 in males, P = 0.015 in ACI). Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed the significance of rs7217186 and rs2619112 in males and in ACI after adjustment for confounding factors. The rs7217186 and rs2619112 polymorphisms of the ALOX15 gene were associated with ischemic stroke in males and in patients with ACI in northern Chinese Han population.