Study on homocysteine levels and methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase gene variant (C677T) in a population of Buenos Aires City

The substitution of cytosine (C) by thymine (T) at nucleotide 677 of the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene, which converts an alanine to a valine residue, is a frequent polymorphism with reduced specific activity, associated with moderate increase in plasma homocysteine levels (tHcy) and risk of vascular diseases. Objectives. This study was designed to investigate an association of this polymorphism with tHcy and vascular risk factors. Methods. We used a cross-sectional study on subjects affiliated to three health centers from Buenos Aires city. The diagnosis of hypertension was ascertained by patients' clinical history. Only subjects under long-term antihypertensive treatment were included. Results. Samples from 138 physically active individuals (44 men and 94 women) randomly selected were included. The mean tHcy was significantly higher amongst hypertensives (HT) than normotensives (NT). The risk of hypertension was compared in subjects with CC genotype and the combined number of subjects with at least one T allele (CT/TT). There was no significant difference regarding the risk of hypertension between NT and HT groups in the overall sample. However, as obesity is considered a risk factor for hypertension development, when only HT (n = 29) and NT (n = 66) subjects with body mass index below 30 kg/m2 (BMI30) were compared, subjects bearing CT/TT presented a significantly higher risk of hypertension than those bearing the CC genotype and significantly higher concentration of tHcy. Conclusions. Our results indicate an association of hyper-tHcy and MTHFR C677T mutation with hypertension. MTHFR C677T mutation may contribute to hypertension or affect the development of hypertension through hyperhomocysteinemia.