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Dietary and genetic determinants of homocysteine levels among Mexican women of reproductive age

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition volume 60, pages 691–697 (2006)Cite this article

Abstract

Objective:

To evaluate the independent and joint effects of dietary folate, vitamin B12 consumption and methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) polymorphisms (677C>T and 1298A>C) on the circulating folate and homocysteine (Hcy) levels among Mexican women of reproductive age.

Design:

A cross-sectional, population-based study.

Subjects:

The first 130 healthy non-pregnant women (aged 16–34 years) who agreed to participate in a reproductive cohort in Morelos, Mexico.

Main outcome measurements:

Dietary intakes of vitamin B12 and folate were estimated using a semiquantitative food frequency questionnaire. MTHFR 677C>T and 1298A>C polymorphisms were ascertained using the PCR-based method. Serum levels of Hcy and folate were determined using high-performance liquid chromatography and radioimmunoassay, respectively.

Results:

Genotype frequencies for the MTHFR 677C>T polymorphism were 21.5% (CC), 52.3% (CT) and 26.2% (TT) among Mexican women. Of the population, 22% had the MTHFR 1298AC genotype, while no individual carried the 1298CC genotype. We observed an increased level of Hcy among carriers of the 677TT genotype, compared to carriers of the 677CC genotype. The highest level of Hcy was observed among MTHFR 677TT carriers with low B12 intake (<2.0 μg/day), which resulted with a significant interaction (P=0.01).

Conclusion:

Vitamin B12 is an important determinant of Hcy levels in Mexico. Supplementation of folic acid with vitamin B12 may be preferable when the MTHFR 677T variant allele is prevalent.

Sponsorship:

Fogarty International Center of NIH, CONACyT Mexico

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Acknowledgements

This study was partly supported by grants from the Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología, CONACyT (41708) as well as from the Fogarty International Center of the National Institutes of Health (D43TW00640) of Mount Sinai School of Medicine/Queens College International Training and Research in Environmental and Occupational Health Program.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Reproductive Health, National Institute of Public Health, Morelos, Mexico

    L Torres-Sánchez, M López-Cervantes & L López-Carrillo

  2. Irving J Selikoff Scholarships in Environmental and Occupational Medicine, The Mount Sinai/Queens College, International Training Program in Environmental and Occupational Health, New York, NY, USA

    L Torres-Sánchez, Y Díaz-Sánchez & L López-Carrillo

  3. Departments of Community and Preventive Medicine, and Pediatrics, and Ruttenberg Cancer Center, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA

    J Chen & C Palomeque

  4. Baylor University Medical Center, Institute of Metabolic Disease, Dallas, TX, USA

    T Bottiglieri

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  1. L Torres-Sánchez
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to L López-Carrillo.

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Guarantors: L Torres-Sánchez and J Chen.

Contributors: LT-S coordinated field work, performed the statistical analysis of data and wrote the first version of the manuscript. JC conceptualized the study and made contributions to the laboratory as well as statistical analysis plan. She supervised the genotyping effort and reviewed manuscript. YD-S participated in the laboratory analysis to determine folate, homocysteine and MTHFR genotypes, as well as, in the field work. CP supervised the laboratory work in regard to genotype determination. TB supervised the laboratory work in regard to vitamin determination. ML conceptualized and designed the cohort study for the selection of studied women. LL conceptualized the study, obtained the funds for the study and made critical revisions of the manuscript.

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Torres-Sánchez, L., Chen, J., Díaz-Sánchez, Y. et al. Dietary and genetic determinants of homocysteine levels among Mexican women of reproductive age. Eur J Clin Nutr 60, 691–697 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ejcn.1602370

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