[MTHFR polymorphisms, dietary folate intake and risks to breast cancer].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the relationship between dietary folate intake and genetic polymorphisms of 5, 10-methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) with reference to breast cancer risk.


METHODS
A case-control study was conducted with 669 cases and 682 population-based controls in Jiangsu province of China. MTHFR C677T and A1298C genotypes were identified by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) methods. Dietary folate intake was assessed by using an 83-item food frequency questionnaire. Odds ratios (OR) were estimated with an unconditional logistic model.


RESULTS
The frequencies of MTHFR C677T C/C, C/T and T/T genotypes were 32.37% (202/624), 48.88% (305/624) and 18.75% (117/624) in cases and 37.66% (235/624), 48.24% (301/624) and 14. 10% (88/624) in controls, respectively. The difference in distribution was significant (chi2 = 6.616, P = 0.037), the T/T genotype being associated with an elevated OR for breast cancer (1.62, 95% CI: 1.14 -2.30). The frequencies of MTHFR A1298C A/A, A/C and C/C were 71.47% (446/624), 27.08% (169/624) and 1.44% (9/624) in cases and 68.11%(425/624), 30.13% (188/624) and 1.76% (11/624)in controls,with no significant differences found (chi2 = 1.716, P= 0.424). Folate intake of cases [(263.00 +/- 137.38) microg/d] was significantly lower than that of controls [(285.12 +/- 149.61) microg/d] (t = -2. 830, P =0.005). Compared with the lowest tertile (< or = 199.08 microg/d) of folate intake, the adjusted OR for breast cancer in the top tertile (> or = 315.11 microg/d) was 0.70 (95% CI: 0.53 -0.92). Among individuals with the MTHFR A1298C A/A genotype,adjusted OR for breast cancer were 0.89 (95% CI: 0.62 - 1.27) and 1.69 (95% CI: 1.20 - 2.36) for the second to the third tertile of folate intake compared with the highest folate intake group (X2trend = 11.372, P = 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
The findings of the present study suggest that MTHFR genetic polymorphisms,and dietary intake of folate may modify susceptibility to breast cancer.
Gao
Chang-Ming
CM
Division of Epidemiology, Jiangsu Province Institute of Cancer Research, Nanjing, China. gaocm888@126.com
Kazuo
Tajima
T
Tang
Jin-Hai
JH
Cao
Hai-Xia
HX
Ding
Jian-Hua
JH
Wu
Jian-Zhong
JZ
Wang
Jie
J
Liu
Yan-Ting
YT
Li
Su-Ping
SP
Su
Ping
P
Keitaro
Matsuo
M
Toshiro
Takezaki
T
D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D004032:Diet; D005260:Female; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000378:metabolism*; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D042965:Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (NADPH2) / Q000235:genetics*; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D005492:Folic Acid; D042965:Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (NADPH2)