Total homocysteine and its predictors in Dutch children.
BACKGROUND
Vitamin status, methylenentetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) genotype, age, sex, and lifestyle factors are all predictors of total homocysteine (tHcy) concentrations in adults. Limited data are available about the influence of these factors on tHcy in children.


OBJECTIVE
The objective was to describe tHcy and its predictors in Dutch children.


METHODS
A sample of 234 white children aged 0-19 y was analyzed cross-sectionally.


RESULTS
The geometric mean tHcy concentrations were 5.1 (95% CI: 4.6, 5.6), 4.6 (4.2, 5.1), 6.2 (5.6, 6.9), 7.3 (6.7, 8.0), and 8.7 (7.9, 9.6) micromol/L in the 0-1, 2-5, 6-10, 11-14, and 15-19 y groups, respectively. Plasma folate and vitamin B-12 concentrations decreased markedly with age. The inverse association between tHcy and plasma folate seen at all ages was stronger than that between tHcy and plasma vitamin B-12. A negative association of plasma folate with tHcy was confined to folate concentrations <20 nmol/L. Homozygosity for the MTHFR 677C-->T polymorphism was identified in 8.2% of the children. The homocysteine concentration did not differ significantly between the MTHFR genotypes.


CONCLUSIONS
This study provided age-specific data regarding tHcy concentrations and their predictors in the whole range of childhood. The tHcy concentration increased as a function of age in both sexes. Plasma folate was a concentration-dependent predictor of tHcy. The MTHFR 677C-->T polymorphism played a minor role in determining tHcy concentrations in children.
van Beynum
Ingrid M
IM
Department of Pediatrics, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, Nijmegen, Netherlands. i.vanbeynum@cukz.umcn.nl
den Heijer
Martin
M
Thomas
Chris M G
CM
Afman
Lydia
L
Oppenraay-van Emmerzaal
Diny
D
Blom
Henk J
HJ
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000375:Aging / Q000097:blood*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003404:Creatinine / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000097:blood; D005838:Genotype; D006710:Homocysteine / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D042965:Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (NADPH2) / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics; D009426:Netherlands; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D014805:Vitamin B 12 / Q000097:blood
D006710:Homocysteine; D005492:Folic Acid; D003404:Creatinine; D042965:Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (NADPH2); D014805:Vitamin B 12