Association of a Methylene Tetrahydrofolate Reductase C677T Polymorphism with Several Blood Chemical Levels in a Chinese Population

Background: The methylene tetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) C677T polymorphism is associated with hypertension in certain populations. This study investigated the relationship between the MTHFR polymorphism and hypertension and correlated blood lipid indexes, including homocysteine (HCY), lipoprotein (a) [Lp (a)], high-density lipoprotein (HDL), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), apolipoprotein A I (Apo AI), Apo B, glucose (GLU), total cholesterol (TC), and triglyceride (TG), in a Chinese population. Materials and Methods: A total of 174 patients with hypertension and 634 healthy control individuals from Jiangxi Province were recruited between June 2012 and September 2012 for genotyping of the MTHFR C677T polymorphism using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism. Biochemical parameters were also assessed in these subjects and statistically compared to the MTHFR C677T polymorphism and the risk for hypertension. Results: HCY and Lp (a) levels were significantly higher in subjects with a MTHFR 677TT genotype than in those with a CC/CT genotype, independent of hypertension. The frequency of the TT genotype and the T allele in hypertension patients was significantly higher than in the healthy controls. Furthermore, in the male hypertension patient group, the average levels of HCY, HDL, Apo AI, and TC were significantly different from those in female hypertension patients (p(HCY)=0.001, p(HDL)=0.004, p(Apo AI)<0.001, p(TC)=0.012). In the male control group, the average levels of HCY, HDL, Apo AI, GLU, and TC were significantly different from those of female controls (p(HCY)<0.001, p(HDL)<0.001, p(Apo AI)<0.001, p(GLU)=0.001, and p(TC)=0.004). Conclusion: Our data demonstrate that the MTHFR C677T polymorphism is positively correlated with an increased risk of hypertension through an increase in HCY levels. The blood lipid correlative index was different between male and female hypertension patients and controls.