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Effect of lifestyle factors on plasma total homocysteine concentrations in relation to MTHFR(C677T) genotype. Inter99 (7)

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition volume 58, pages 1142–1150 (2004)Cite this article

Abstract

Objective: To examine the associations between various lifestyle factors—smoking habits, physical activity, dietary habits, coffee, tea, and alcohol consumption—and homocysteine (tHcy) in relation to MTHFR(C677T) genotype.

Design: Cross-sectional population-based study.

Setting: Residents of Copenhagen County, Denmark.

Subjects: A random sample of 6457 men and women aged 30–60 years drawn from the Civil Registration System and invited to a health examination in 1999–2001. A total of 2788 participants were included in the statistical analysis.

Main outcome measures: tHcy was measured using a Fluorescent Polarization Immuno Assay. MTHFR-genotype was determined by PCR and RFLP analysis. Information about lifestyle factors was obtained from a self-administered questionnaire.

Results: Daily smoking, less healthy dietary habits, and coffee drinking were associated with elevated tHcy concentrations independent of other determinants. Wine consumption was related to tHcy in a J-shaped manner, whereas beer consumption was negatively associated with tHcy after multiple adjustments. Interaction was observed between smoking status and MTHFR-genotype, smoking status and sex, and beer consumption and age. The effect of smoking was more pronounced in persons with the TT genotype and in women. The effect of beer consumption was more pronounced at younger than at older ages.

Conclusions: Smoking status, dietary habits, coffee intake, wine, and beer consumption were major lifestyle determinants of tHcy. Changes in these lifestyle factors may reduce tHcy concentrations, thereby lowering cardiovascular risk in the general population.

Sponsorship: Danish Medical Research Council, Danish Centre for Evaluation and Health Technology Assessment, and Danish Heart Foundation.

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Acknowledgements

The Danish Medical Research Council, The Danish Centre for Evaluation and Health Technology Assessment, and the Danish Heart Foundation financially supported this study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Research Centre for Prevention and Health, Copenhagen County, Glostrup, Denmark

    L L N Husemoen, T F Thomsen & T Jørgensen

  2. Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Hvidovre University Hospital, Hvidovre, Denmark

    M Fenger

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  1. L L N Husemoen
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  2. T F Thomsen
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  3. M Fenger
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  4. T Jørgensen
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Contributions

Contributors: LLNH: design of the study, analysis of data, interpretation of results, writing of the manuscript. TFT: design of the study, interpretation of results. MF: interpretation of results. TJ: design of the study, interpretation of results.

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Correspondence to L L N Husemoen.

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Husemoen, L., Thomsen, T., Fenger, M. et al. Effect of lifestyle factors on plasma total homocysteine concentrations in relation to MTHFR(C677T) genotype. Inter99 (7). Eur J Clin Nutr 58, 1142–1150 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ejcn.1601942

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