B-group vitamins, MTHFR C677T polymorphism and carotid intima-media thickness in clinically healthy subjects

C. S. Liu, C. H. Chen, H. C. Chiang, C. L. Kuo, C. S. Huang, W. L. Cheng, Y. H. Wei, H. W. Chen

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal Article peer-review

14 Scopus citations

Abstract

Objective: Plasma B-group vitamins and age may affect the carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) in subjects with different 677TT genotype of the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene. Design: A hospital-based cross-study. Setting: Genomic and Vascular Center, Changhua Christian Hospital, Changhua, Taiwan. Subjects: Five hundred and forty-one clinically healthy subjects. Intervention: Fasting plasma, homocysteine (Hcy), vitamin B6, vitamin B12, folate and B-mode carotid ultrasound. Results: MTHFR genotype, plasma concentrations of folate, vitamin B6 and vitamin B12 and age were significantly correlated to the plasma Hcy concentration. MTHFR 677TT carriers had higher concentrations of Hcy than did subjects with the CC and CT genotypes. Age, sex, body mass index and plasma Hcy were independent contributors to increase carotid IMT. However, with stratification by mean value of age and B-group vitamins concentrations, we found that at advanced age, lower plasma folate and vitamin B12 were three risk factors involved in the enhancing effect of the MTHFR 677TT genotype on the increase of plasma Hcy and carotid IMT. Conclusion: MTHFR 677TT-related carotid atherosclerosis was only identified in healthy elderly subjects with lower level of plasma folate and vitamin B12.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)996-1003
Number of pages8
JournalEuropean Journal of Clinical Nutrition
Volume61
Issue number8
DOIs
StatePublished - 08 2007
Externally publishedYes

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'B-group vitamins, MTHFR C677T polymorphism and carotid intima-media thickness in clinically healthy subjects'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this