title: Folate Deficiency Was Associated with Increased Alanine Aminotransferase and Glutamyl Transpeptidase Concentrations in a Chinese Hypertensive Population: A Cross-Sectional Study.
abstract: Alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), and glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) were three key enzymes in the hepatic metabolism. This study aimed to investigate the effect of homocysteine (Hcy) metabolism gene polymorphisms and serum Hcy and folate level on the hepatic functions in a Chinese hypertensive population. A representative sample with 480 subjects aged 28-75 was enrolled in 2005.9-2005.12 from six hospitals in different Chinese regions. Serum ALT, AST and GGT were measured by using an automatic biochemistry analyzer. Serum Hcy was measured by high-performance liquid chromatography, and serum folate was measured by chemiluminescent immunoassay. Known genotypes were detected by PCR-RFLP methods. The results showed that the MTHFR C677T mutation was related a decreased serum AST level (r=-0.11, p=0.026), whereas the MTHFR A1298C mutation elevated serum AST level (r=0.11, p=0.032). Furthermore, multiple regression analysis showed that folate deficiency was associated with higher serum ALT (β (SE): 0.13 (0.06), p=0.031) and GGT level (β (SE): 0.18 (0.07), p=0.011). However, serum Hcy level may not affect the hepatic functions. Our data suggested that hepatic functions were affected by MTHFR gene polymorphisms and serum folate level. Further studies are needed to confirm these correlations in a larger population.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Health Sciences, Anhui University.
authors.forename: Wen-Xing
authors.initials: WX
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Jia-Qian
authors.initials: JQ
authors.lastname: Cao
authors.forename: Haiyue
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yan
authors.forename: Yuanyuan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Hong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Qiang
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Ling
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.forename: Manman
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Jing-Fei
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Dahai
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood*; D044466:Asian People / Q000235:genetics*; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000097:blood; D002681:China; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000097:blood; D005494:Folic Acid Deficiency / Q000097:blood*; D005838:Genotype; D006710:Homocysteine / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics; D008297:Male; D042965:Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (NADPH2) / Q000235:genetics*; D008875:Middle Aged; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D005723:gamma-Glutamyltransferase / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D006710:Homocysteine; D005492:Folic Acid; C573423:MTHFR protein, human; D042965:Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (NADPH2); D005723:gamma-Glutamyltransferase; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D000410:Alanine Transaminase