Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase 677CT polymorphism and cobalamin, folate, and homocysteine status in Spanish adolescents.
BACKGROUND
Folate and cobalamin are responsible for healthy growth. However, the B-vitamin and homocysteine status of adolescents is not well known. The aim was to assess the status of folate, cobalamin, and homocysteine in healthy Spanish adolescents.


METHODS
Serum cobalamin, serum folate, homocysteine, methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase 677C>T variant, BMI, smoking habits, and Tanner stage were determined according to gender in 165 adolescents (84 females, 81 males; 13-18.5 years) using the Student's t test, Mann-Whitney U test and chi(2) test, respectively. Interactions between socioeconomic status, age group, methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase polymorphism, BMI, smoking habits, Tanner stage, and vitamin status, respectively, were examined by ANOVA or Kruskal-Wallis H test (p < 0.05).


RESULTS
Boys had markedly higher homocysteine (males 8.92 (5.51-22.94) micromol/l; females 7.91 (5.09-13.86) micromol/l), whereas girls showed higher serum cobalamin concentrations (males 540.00 (268.00-946.47) pmol/l; females 594.82 (280.63-1,559.64) pmol/l). Data are shown as medians and the 2.5th to 97.5th percentiles in parentheses. Adolescents with the homozygous variant of methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase displayed significantly higher homocysteine and lower serum folate: normal 5.73 (3.09-10.73) ng/ml serum folate, 7.57 (4.94-12.94) micromol/l homocysteine; homozygous 4.10 (2.75-7.88) ng/ml serum folate, 10.83 (7.00-22.82) micromol/l homocysteine.


CONCLUSIONS
The present study provides data on the folate, cobalamin, and homocysteine status of Spanish adolescents. To assure a better assessment, revision of references for adolescents is still needed.
Al-Tahan
Jasmin
J
Institut fur Ernahrungs- und Lebensmittelwissenschaften, Humanernahrung, Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms Universitat Bonn, Bonn, Deutschland.
Sola
Ricardo
R
Ruiz
Jonatan R
JR
Breidenassel
Christina
C
García-Fuentes
Miguel
M
Moreno
Luis A
LA
Castillo
Manuel
M
Pietrzik
Klaus
K
González-Gross
Marcela
M
D000293:Adolescent; D017195:Adolescent Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D015992:Body Mass Index; D005260:Female; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000097:blood; D005494:Folic Acid Deficiency / Q000097:blood / Q000201:enzymology; D006710:Homocysteine / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D042965:Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (NADPH2) / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D015596:Nutrition Assessment; D009752:Nutritional Status; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic / Q000235:genetics*; D012737:Sex Factors; D012907:Smoking; D013030:Spain; D014805:Vitamin B 12 / Q000097:blood; D014803:Vitamin B Complex / Q000097:blood*
D006710:Homocysteine; D014803:Vitamin B Complex; D005492:Folic Acid; D042965:Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (NADPH2); D014805:Vitamin B 12