The effect of MTHFR(C677T) genotype on plasma homocysteine concentrations in healthy children is influenced by gender.
OBJECTIVE
To explore the influence of gender, together with folate status, on the relation between the common methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) C677T polymorphism and plasma total homocysteine (tHcy) concentrations in healthy children.


METHODS
Cross-sectional study by face-to-face interview.


METHODS
A total of 186 sixth-grade students participated from twelve randomly selected primary schools in Volos, Greece.


METHODS
Fasting tHcy, folate, and vitamin B(12) were measured in plasma. The MTHFR genotypes were determined. Anthropometric and dietary intake data by 24-h recall were collected.


RESULTS
Geometric means for plasma tHcy, plasma folate and energy-adjusted dietary folate did not differ between females and males. The homozygous mutant TT genotype was associated with higher tHcy only in children with lower plasma folate concentrations (<19.9 nmol/l, P = 0.012). As a significant gender interaction was observed (P = 0.050), we stratified the lower plasma folate group by gender and found that the association between the genotype and tHcy was restricted to males (P = 0.026). Similar results were obtained when folate status was based on estimated dietary folate. Specifically, only TT males that reported lower dietary folate consumption (<37 microg/MJ/day) had tHcy that was significantly higher than tHcy levels of C-allele carriers (P = 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
Under conditions of lower folate status (as estimated by either plasma concentration or reported dietary consumption), gender modifies the association of the MTHFR(C677T) polymorphism with tHcy concentrations in healthy children.


BACKGROUND
Kellog Europe.
Papoutsakis
C
C
Laboratory of Nutrition and Clinical Dietetics, Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Harokopio University, Athens, Greece. tina.papoutsakis@hua.gr
Yiannakouris
N
N
Manios
Y
Y
Papaconstantinou
E
E
Magkos
F
F
Schulpis
K H
KH
Zampelas
A
A
Matalas
A L
AL
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004032:Diet; D005260:Female; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000097:blood*; D005838:Genotype; D006115:Greece; D006710:Homocysteine / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011939:Mental Recall; D042965:Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (NADPH2) / Q000235:genetics*; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D012737:Sex Factors; D014805:Vitamin B 12 / Q000097:blood
D006710:Homocysteine; D005492:Folic Acid; D042965:Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (NADPH2); D014805:Vitamin B 12