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

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition volume 61, pages 996–1003 (2007)Cite this article

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.

Sponsorship:

Changhua Christian Hospital.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by research Grant NSC92-2314-B-371-004 from the National Science Council, Changhua christian Hospital and Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Academica Sinica, Taiwan.

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Author notes

  1. C S Liu and H W Chen: These two authors contributed equally to this work.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurology, Chung Shan Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan

    C S Liu

  2. Graduate Institute of Integration Chinese and Western Medicine, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan

    C S Liu

  3. Department of Neurology, Vascular and Genomic Center, Changhua Christian Hospital, Changhua, Taiwan

    C S Liu, C L Kuo, C S Huang & W L Cheng

  4. Department of General Education, Tung Hai University, Taichung, Taiwan

    C S Liu

  5. Institute of Biomedical Science, Academia Sinica, Taiwan

    C H Chen

  6. Institute of Nutritional Science, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan

    H C Chiang & H W Chen

  7. Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan

    Y H Wei

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  1. C S Liu
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  2. C H Chen
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Correspondence to H W Chen.

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Liu, C., Chen, C., Chiang, H. et al. B-group vitamins, MTHFR C677T polymorphism and carotid intima-media thickness in clinically healthy subjects. Eur J Clin Nutr 61, 996–1003 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ejcn.1602606

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ejcn.1602606

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