title: Reduced total plasma homocyst(e)ine in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective was to investigate total plasma homocyst(e)ine (tHcy), methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) genotype, and the contribution of diet to homocysteine values in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes and a control group.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 78 children with type 1 diabetes and 59 members of an age- and sex-matched control group were recruited. Fasting samples were collected for tHcy, MTHFR genotype, serum vitamin B(12), serum folate, red cell folate, and plasma creatinine. Food frequency questionnaires targeted intake of folate, vitamin B(6), and vitamin B(12).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fasting tHcy was reduced in patients compared with the control group (4.7 vs 5.9 micromol/L, P <.001). Serum folate (P =.002), red cell folate(P <.001), and serum vitamin B(12) (P =.005) were higher, and plasma creatinine was lower. A significant difference in tHcy values between patients and the control group persisted after correction was done for these factors (r = 0.1, P =.02). No difference was seen in the frequency of MTHFR polymorphisms. tHcy was not elevated in those patients with the 677TT or 677T/1298C genotypes, although red cell folate was significantly higher in members of the case (P =.01) and control groups (P =.05) with a 677 TT genotype. Dietary intake of folate correlated with serum folate (r = 0.4,P =.005).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  tHcy values are lower in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes. Higher serum levels of folic acid and vitamin B(12), reflecting differences in dietary intake between children with diabetes and members of a control group, partially account for this difference.
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology, Women's and Children's Hospital, 72 King William Road, North Adelaide, South Australia 5006, Australia.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Wiltshire
authors.forename: D W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Baghurst
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Couper
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D003404:Creatinine / Q000097:blood; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000097:blood*; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000737:chemistry; D005260:Female; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000097:blood; D005838:Genotype; D006710:Homocysteine / Q000097:blood*; D006711:Homocystine / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D042965:Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (NADPH2); D000587:Oxidoreductases Acting on CH-NH Group Donors / Q000097:blood; D014805:Vitamin B 12 / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D006710:Homocysteine; D006711:Homocystine; D005492:Folic Acid; D003404:Creatinine; D000587:Oxidoreductases Acting on CH-NH Group Donors; D042965:Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (NADPH2); D014805:Vitamin B 12