Effects of hormone replacement therapy and methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase polymorphism on plasma folate and homocysteine levels in postmenopausal Japanese women.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the relationships among the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) polymorphism, plasma folate, total homocysteine (Hcy) levels, lipids, and the reduction of Hcy levels resulting from hormone replacement therapy (HRT).


METHODS
Clinical study.


METHODS
Outpatient department of obstetrics and gynecology in a general hospital.


METHODS
Two hundred seventeen postmenopausal Japanese women.


METHODS
Of the 217 women, 172 patients were under continuous treatment with oral conjugated equine estrogen and medroxyprogesteron acetate.


METHODS
Fasting Hcy, folate, methionine, lipids, and apolipoproteins were measured before and after 3 months of HRT.


RESULTS
The plasma Hcy concentration was significantly higher in the low folate than in the high-folate group only in patients with the homozygous (T/T) mutant. Plasma Hcy concentrations were significantly correlated with age (R = 0.64, P=.02) or years since menopause (R = 0.73, P=.02) only in the low-folate group with T/T. The plasma Hcy concentration decreased significantly in all genotypes after 3 months of HRT, but the levels of serum folate and methionine remained unchanged.


CONCLUSIONS
The MTHFR polymorphism was associated with a higher Hcy concentration, and this association was related to the serum folate level. Hormone replacement therapy reduced the plasma Hcy concentration independently of the MTHFR polymorphism.
Somekawa
Yoshiaki
Y
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Toride Kyodo General Hospital, Toride, Japan. pv2t-sigi@asashi-net.or.jp
Kobayashi
Kimiko
K
Tomura
Shigeo
S
Aso
Takeshi
T
Hamaguchi
Hideo
H
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001053:Apolipoproteins / Q000097:blood; D004247:DNA / Q000235:genetics; D004967:Estrogens / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000097:blood*; D006710:Homocysteine / Q000097:blood*; D020249:Hormone Replacement Therapy; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D017258:Medroxyprogesterone Acetate / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008715:Methionine / Q000097:blood; D042965:Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (NADPH2); D008875:Middle Aged; D000587:Oxidoreductases Acting on CH-NH Group Donors / Q000235:genetics*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic / Q000235:genetics; D045167:Progesterone Congeners / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012044:Regression Analysis
D001053:Apolipoproteins; D004967:Estrogens; D008055:Lipids; D045167:Progesterone Congeners; D006710:Homocysteine; D004247:DNA; D005492:Folic Acid; D008715:Methionine; D017258:Medroxyprogesterone Acetate; D000587:Oxidoreductases Acting on CH-NH Group Donors; D042965:Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (NADPH2)