The methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase gene polymorphism in Koreans with coronary artery disease

Hyperhomocysteinemia is a known risk factor of cardiovascular diseases. Met hylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR), involved in folate-dependant meta bolism, is associated with homocysteine levels. We studied the associations among MTHFR genotypes, coronary artery disease (CAD), and homocysteine lev els in 85 patients with CAD and 152 healthy subjects. The MTHFR genotypes a nd plasma homocysteine levels were determined. No significant difference in mutation of the MTHFR gene between two groups was observed (P>0.05). While the homozygous mutant genotype (V/V) had the highest homocysteine levels c ompared to wild (A/A) and heterozygous mutant (A/V) genotypes. there were n o significant differences in homocysteine levels among the MTHFR genotype g roups. Homocysteine was significantly and inversely related to folate level s, the significant association in V/V genotype (beta coefficient= - 1.954, P=0.04). Our data suggested that MTHFR polymorphism was not associated with homocysteine levels, implying no association between gene polymorphism and CAD in Koreans. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved .