title: Significance of dietary folate intake, homocysteine levels and MTHFR 677 C>T genotyping in South African patients diagnosed with depression: test development for clinical application.
abstract: Low folate intake in the presence of the functional MTHFR 677 C > T (rs1801133) polymorphism is an important cause of elevated homocysteine levels previously implicated in major depressive disorder (MDD) and many other chronic diseases. In this study the clinical relevance and inter-relationship of these aspects were evaluated in 86 South African patients diagnosed with MDD and 97 population-matched controls participating in a chronic diseases screening program. A questionnaire-based clinical and nutrition assessment was performed, homocysteine levels determined, and all study participants genotyped for MTHFR 677 C > T (rs1801133) using allele-specific TaqMan technology. The folate score was found to be significantly lower in the patient group compared to controls (p = 0.003) and correlated with increased body mass index (BMI), particularly in females with MDD (p = 0.009). BMI was significantly higher in the MDD patients compared with controls after adjustment for age and sex (p = 0.015), but this association was no longer significant after further adjustment for the level of folate intake in the diet. In MDD patients but not controls, the minor T-allele of MTHFR 677 C > T was associated with increased BMI (p = 0.032), which in turn correlated significantly with increased homocysteine levels. The significant association between BMI and homocysteine levels was observed in both the MDD patient (p = 0.049) and control (p = 0.018) study groups. The significantly higher homocysteine levels observed in MDD patients compared to controls after adjustment for age and sex (p = 0.030), therefore appears to be mediated by the effects of MTHFR 677 C > T and low folate intake on BMI. Detection of the low-penetrance MTHFR 677 C > T mutation reinforces the importance of folate intake above the recommended daily dose to prevent or restore dysfunction of the methylation pathway.
authors: Division of Chemical Pathology, Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Tygerberg, South Africa.
authors: Darnielle
authors: D
authors: Delport
authors: Renata
authors: R
authors: Schoeman
authors: Nicole
authors: N
authors: van der Merwe
authors: Lize
authors: L
authors: van der Merwe
authors: Leslie R
authors: LR
authors: Fisher
authors: Dieter
authors: D
authors: Geiger
authors: Maritha J
authors: MJ
authors: Kotze
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000097:blood / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000235:genetics*; D004032:Diet / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005838:Genotype; D006710:Homocysteine / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D042965:Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (NADPH2) / Q000235:genetics*; D008875:Middle Aged; D013019:South Africa / Q000453:epidemiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires / Q000592:standards
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D006710:Homocysteine; D005492:Folic Acid; C573423:MTHFR protein, human; D042965:Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (NADPH2)