Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase gene variant (MTHFR C677T) and migraine: a case control study and meta-analysis

• Published in: BMC neurology 2011-06, Vol.11 (1), p.66-66, Article 66
• Main Authors: Samaan, Zainab, Gaysina, Daria, Cohen-Woods, Sarah, Craddock, Nick, Jones, Lisa, Korszun, Ania, Owen, Mike, Mente, Andrew, McGuffin, Peter, Farmer, Anne
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Analysis; Carbon-Nitrogen Ligases - genetics; Case-Control Studies; Depression - diagnosis; Depression - etiology; DNA Mutational Analysis; Female; Gene Frequency; Genetic aspects; Genetic Predisposition to Disease; Genetic variation; Genotype; Humans; Logistic Models; Male; Meta-Analysis as Topic; Methylene compounds; Middle Aged; Migraine; Migraine with Aura - complications; Migraine with Aura - genetics; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide - genetics; Psychiatric Status Rating Scales
• ISSN: 1471-2377; 1471-2377
• DOI: 10.1186/1471-2377-11-66

Migraine is a common disorder that often coexists with depression. While a functional polymorphism in methyleneterahydrofolate reductase gene (MTHFR C677T) has been implicated in depression; the evidence to support an association of MTHFR with migraine has been inconclusive. We aim to investigate the effect of this variant on propensity for migraine and to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis of studies of MTHFR and migraine to date. Individuals with migraine (n = 447) were selected from the Depression Case Control (DeCC) study to investigate the association between migraine and MTHFR C677T single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs1801133 using an additive model compared to non-migraineurs adjusting for depression status. A meta-analysis was performed and included 15 studies of MTHFR and migraine. MTHFR C677T polymorphism was associated with migraine with aura (MA) (OR 1.31, 95% CI 1.01-1.70, p = 0.039) that remained significant after adjusting for age, sex and depression status. A meta-analysis of 15 case-control studies showed that T allele homozygosity is significantly associated with MA (OR = 1.42; 95% CI, 1.10-1.82) and total migraine (OR = 1.37; 95% CI, 1.07-1.76), but not migraine without aura (OR = 1.16; 95% CI, 0.36-3.76). In studies of non-Caucasian population, the TT genotype was associated with total migraine (OR= 3.46; 95% CI, 1.22-9.82), whereas in studies of Caucasians this variant was associated with MA only (OR = 1.28; 95% CI, 1.002-1.63). MTHFR C677T is associated with MA in individuals selected for depression study. A meta-analysis of 15 studies supports this association and demonstrated effects across ethnic groups.