Hyperhomocysteinemia and elevated ox-LDL in Tunisian type 2 diabetic patients: role of genetic and dietary factors.
BACKGROUND
Total plasma homocysteine (tHcy) is an emerging risk factor for the development of atherosclerosis. However, its relationship with diabetes is still unclear.


OBJECTIVE
We evaluated the association between tHcy levels and methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) 677C-->T genotype in a type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) population and their relationship with oxidized LDL (ox-LDL) according to dietary habits and vascular complications.


METHODS
Eighty-six DM patients were compared to 120 healthy volunteers.


RESULTS
Associated higher tHcy levels and significantly higher ox-LDL levels (p<0.001) were found in DM patients compared to healthy subjects. Homozygosity for the T allele of MTHFR was more frequent in diabetics than in healthy subjects (12.8% vs. 7.2%) and it was associated with higher tHcy levels. Moreover, this elevated level was associated with significantly higher ox-LDL levels in DM patients with hypertension (p<0.05). Improving folate and vitamin C intakes could have beneficial effects on lowering the tHcy and ox-LDL levels.


CONCLUSIONS
The interplay of genetic and dietary factors modulates the effect of homocysteine on cardiovascular risk factors.
Koubaa
N
N
Laboratory of Biochemistry, UR "Human Nutrition and Metabolic Disorders" Faculty of Medicine, Avicene St., 5019 Monastir, Tunisia.
Nakbi
A
A
Smaoui
M
M
Abid
N
N
Chaaba
R
R
Abid
M
M
Hammami
M
M
D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D006711:Homocystine / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D020138:Hyperhomocysteinemia / Q000097:blood*; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D042965:Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (NADPH2) / Q000235:genetics; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D012307:Risk Factors; D014416:Tunisia
D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL; C099252:oxidized low density lipoprotein; D006711:Homocystine; D042965:Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (NADPH2)