title: MTHFR gene C677T polymorphism and type 2 diabetic nephropathy in Asian populations: a meta-analysis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Many studies have suggested a correlation between the C677T mutation in the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene and diabetic nephropathy (DN), but their results are inconclusive.
  
  
  METHODS
  To confirm this correlation, we performed a meta-analysis of 15 studies. The dichotomous data are presented as odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results of this study suggested that the MTHFR 677 T allele was more likely to increase the risk of DN in Asian (OR = 1.466, 95% CI = 1.143-1.880, P = 0.003), West Asian (OR = 1.750, 95% CI = 1.150-2.664, P = 0.009), and Chinese populations (OR = 2.162, 95% CI = 1.719-2.719, P = 0.001), but not in East Asian or Japanese populations. The carriers of the MTHFR 677 T allele were associated with progression of DN in the "5-10 year duration" group, but not in the "> 10 year duration" group (OR = 2.187, 95% CI = 1.787-2.677, P = 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Development of DN is associated with MTHFR C677T polymorphisms in Asian populations, especially in early type 2 diabetes.
authors.affiliation: The Second Hospital of Tianjin Medical University 23 Pingkiang Road, Hexi District, Tianjin 300211, China.
authors.forename: Haiyan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: The Second Hospital of Tianjin Medical University 23 Pingkiang Road, Hexi District, Tianjin 300211, China.
authors.forename: Fang
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.affiliation: The Second Hospital of Tianjin Medical University 23 Pingkiang Road, Hexi District, Tianjin 300211, China.
authors.forename: Lihua
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: The Second Hospital of Tianjin Medical University 23 Pingkiang Road, Hexi District, Tianjin 300211, China.
authors.forename: Zhe
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: The Second Hospital of Tianjin Medical University 23 Pingkiang Road, Hexi District, Tianjin 300211, China.
authors.forename: Jia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Meng
authors.affiliation: The Second Hospital of Tianjin Medical University 23 Pingkiang Road, Hexi District, Tianjin 300211, China.
authors.forename: Lan
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Jia
authors.affiliation: The Second Hospital of Tianjin Medical University 23 Pingkiang Road, Hexi District, Tianjin 300211, China.
authors.forename: Guijiang
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.affiliation: The Second Hospital of Tianjin Medical University 23 Pingkiang Road, Hexi District, Tianjin 300211, China.
authors.forename: Ruining
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: The Second Hospital of Tianjin Medical University 23 Pingkiang Road, Hexi District, Tianjin 300211, China.
authors.forename: Bo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: The Second Hospital of Tianjin Medical University 23 Pingkiang Road, Hexi District, Tianjin 300211, China.
authors.forename: Haibo
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.affiliation: The Second Hospital of Tianjin Medical University 23 Pingkiang Road, Hexi District, Tianjin 300211, China.
authors.forename: Haiyan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Pang
authors.affiliation: The Second Hospital of Tianjin Medical University 23 Pingkiang Road, Hexi District, Tianjin 300211, China.
authors.forename: Xueqing
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Bi
authors.affiliation: The Second Hospital of Tianjin Medical University 23 Pingkiang Road, Hexi District, Tianjin 300211, China.
authors.forename: Hongye
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Dong
authors.affiliation: The Second Hospital of Tianjin Medical University 23 Pingkiang Road, Hexi District, Tianjin 300211, China.
authors.forename: Aili
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.affiliation: The Second Hospital of Tianjin Medical University 23 Pingkiang Road, Hexi District, Tianjin 300211, China.
authors.forename: Lin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wang
keywords: Diabetic nephropathy; MTHFR polymorphisms; type 2 diabetes