title: Serum homocysteine, MTHFR gene polymorphism, and carotid intimal-medial thickness in NIDDM subjects.
abstract: We assessed the contribution of serum homocysteine levels, an independent risk factor for vascular disease, and of the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) C677T mutation to the variability of carotid intimal-medial thickness (IMT) in patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM). Ninety-five patients (33 males and 62 females, mean age 53 +/- 10 years) without nephropathy or other vascular complications were enrolled. Fasting total serum homocysteine and other biochemical analytes were measured. The MTHFR polymorphism was determined by the polymerase chain reaction. Common carotid IMT and plaques or stenoses in the carotid district were measured by ultrasonography. Serum total homocysteine concentrations were higher in subjects with the mutant (Val/Val) genotype than in those with the Ala/Val plus Ala/Ala genotypes (P = 0.02). On univariate analysis, carotid IMT was significantly associated with age, body mass index (BMI), systolic blood pressure, and total cholesterolemia. No significant association was found between IMT and serum homocysteine or the MTHFR polymorphism, although a slightly greater IMT was observed in the homozygous Val genotypes. On multiple regression analysis, only age and BMI were independently associated with IMT and explained about 40% of IMT variability. The results did not change when the analysis was restricted to the subgroups with or without atherosclerotic plaques in the carotid district. In 95 Italian NIDDM patients without nephropathy, neither basal levels of serum total homocysteine nor the MTHFR C677T polymorphism predicted significant changes in common carotid intimal-medial thickness.
authors.affiliation: Department of Geriatrics and Metabolic Diseases, 2nd University of Naples.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mazza
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Motti
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nulli
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pastore
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Andreotti
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Ammaturo
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bianco
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Santoro
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Federici
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cortese
mesh_terms: D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000235:genetics; D017536:Carotid Artery, Common / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000235:genetics*; D003925:Diabetic Angiopathies / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D006710:Homocysteine / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D042965:Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (NADPH2); D008875:Middle Aged; D000587:Oxidoreductases Acting on CH-NH Group Donors / Q000235:genetics*; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012307:Risk Factors; D017539:Tunica Intima / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D017540:Tunica Media / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014463:Ultrasonography
chemical_list: D006710:Homocysteine; D000587:Oxidoreductases Acting on CH-NH Group Donors; D042965:Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (NADPH2)