B-group vitamins, MTHFR C677T polymorphism and carotid intima-media thickness in clinically healthy subjects.
OBJECTIVE
Plasma B-group vitamins and age may affect the carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) in subjects with different 677TT genotype of the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene.


METHODS
A hospital-based cross-study.


METHODS
Genomic and Vascular Center, Changhua Christian Hospital, Changhua, Taiwan.


METHODS
Five hundred and forty-one clinically healthy subjects.


METHODS
Fasting plasma, homocysteine (Hcy), vitamin B(6), vitamin B(12), folate and B-mode carotid ultrasound.


RESULTS
MTHFR genotype, plasma concentrations of folate, vitamin B(6) and vitamin B(12) and age were significantly correlated to the plasma Hcy concentration. MTHFR 677TT carriers had higher concentrations of Hcy than did subjects with the CC and CT genotypes. Age, sex, body mass index and plasma Hcy were independent contributors to increase carotid IMT. However, with stratification by mean value of age and B-group vitamins concentrations, we found that at advanced age, lower plasma folate and vitamin B(12) were three risk factors involved in the enhancing effect of the MTHFR 677TT genotype on the increase of plasma Hcy and carotid IMT.


CONCLUSIONS
MTHFR 677TT-related carotid atherosclerosis was only identified in healthy elderly subjects with lower level of plasma folate and vitamin B(12).


BACKGROUND
Changhua Christian Hospital.
Liu
C S
CS
Department of Neurology, Chung Shan Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan. 26602@cch.org.tw
Chen
C H
CH
Chiang
H C
HC
Kuo
C L
CL
Huang
C S
CS
Cheng
W L
WL
Wei
Y H
YH
Chen
H W
HW
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D019731:Carbon-Nitrogen Ligases / Q000235:genetics*; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000473:pathology*; D002340:Carotid Artery Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000097:blood; D005838:Genotype; D006710:Homocysteine / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D017539:Tunica Intima / Q000473:pathology*; D014805:Vitamin B 12 / Q000097:blood; D014803:Vitamin B Complex / Q000097:blood*
D006710:Homocysteine; D014803:Vitamin B Complex; D005492:Folic Acid; D019731:Carbon-Nitrogen Ligases; C021557:5,10-methenyltetrahydrofolate synthetase; D014805:Vitamin B 12