title: Serum homocysteine, folate level and methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase 677, 1298 gene polymorphism in Korean schizophrenic patients.
abstract: High homocysteine serum level has been regarded as one of the important factors that influence the development of schizophrenia. Genetic variations of methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase, which is a main enzyme reducing homocysteine level, are reported in schizophrenic patients. We measured the serum level of homocysteine/folate and methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase C677T/A1298C gene polymorphism in 235 patients with schizophrenia. Plasma homocysteine levels were higher and folate levels were lower in patients than in comparison subjects. Variations of C677T were more frequent in patients than in comparison subjects. Patients with the 677TT genotype showed higher homocysteine levels than patients with the CC and CT genotypes. These findings suggest that folate supplement may be beneficial to some schizophrenic patients with homocysteinemia due to the genetic defect of methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuropsychiatry, College of Medicine, Chung-Ang University Medical Center, Seoul National University Hospital, Korea.
authors.forename: Young Sik
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Doug Hyun
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Chang Moo
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Jeon
authors.forename: In Kyoon
authors.initials: IK
authors.lastname: Lyoo
authors.forename: Chul
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Na
authors.forename: Seok Lae
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Chae
authors.forename: Soo Churl
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Cho
mesh_terms: D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000097:blood*; D006710:Homocysteine / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D007723:Korea / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D042965:Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (NADPH2) / Q000235:genetics*; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D012307:Risk Factors; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D006710:Homocysteine; D005492:Folic Acid; D042965:Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (NADPH2)