Nutritional Factors, Homocysteine and C677T Polymorphism of the Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase Gene in Algerian Subjects with Cardiovascular Disease

The C677T variant of methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR), a key enzyme in the remethylation of homocysteine (HCY) to methionine, is a frequent genetic cause of moderate hyperhomocysteinemia (HHCY) among individuals with cardiovascular disease (CVD), and particularly when combined with other factors such as hyperlipidaemia. However, in Algeria the influence of nutrient-gene interactions is not known. The aim of the present study was to explore the influence of age and gender, together with folate status, on the association between the C677T MTHFR polymorphism and plasma total HCY (tHCY) concentrations. This research was carried out as a prospective study on 98 patients hospitalized in the Cardiology Section, University of Sétif, Algeria. Mean age of participants was 57 y (range 20-96 y).The genetic analysis of the MTHFR C677T polymorphism was performed by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) performed on Light Cycler in borosilicate capillaries with MTHFR 677CT polymorphism detection kit. The concentrations of tHCY, folic acid vitamin B 12 levels were determined using a competitive immunoassay on the IMMULITE 1000 Analyzers. Plasma total cholesterol, triglycerides, glucose, creatinine and urea concentrations were measured by colorimetric methods. Assays were conducted according to the manufacturers' instructions. Plasma tHCY was significantly higher in the patients with CVD, and HHCY was associated with the presence of mildly elevated serum urea and creatinine (p