Plasma homocysteine, methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase gene polymorphism and carotid intima-media thickness in Italian type 2 diabetic patients

• Published in: European journal of clinical investigation 2002-01, Vol.32 (1), p.24-28
• Main Authors: Scaglione, L., Gambino, R., Rolfo, E., Lillaz, E., Gai, M., Cassader, M., Pagano, G., Cavallo-Perin, P.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aged; Biological and medical sciences; Carotid Arteries - diagnostic imaging; Carotid Arteries - pathology; Carotid intima-media thickness; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 - blood; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 - epidemiology; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 - genetics; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 - pathology; Diabetes. Impaired glucose tolerance; Diabetic Angiopathies - blood; Diabetic Angiopathies - epidemiology; Diabetic Angiopathies - genetics; Diabetic Angiopathies - pathology; Endocrine pancreas. Apud cells (diseases); Endocrinopathies; Etiopathogenesis. Screening. Investigations. Target tissue resistance; Female; Genotype; homocysteine; Homocysteine - blood; Humans; Italy; Male; Medical sciences; methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase; Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (NADPH2); Middle Aged; Oxidoreductases Acting on CH-NH Group Donors - genetics; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; Prevalence; Risk Factors; Tunica Intima - pathology; type 2 diabetes mellitus; Ultrasonography
• ISSN: 0014-2972; 1365-2362
• DOI: 10.1046/j.1365-2362.2002.00936.x

Background Moderately elevated levels of homocysteine have been associated with an increased cardiovascular risk in type 2 diabetic patients. The role of methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase gene polymorphism is less clear. Materials and methods We investigated the contribution of plasma homocysteine levels and the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase gene polymorphism to the variability of carotid intima‐media thickness in 124 consecutive Italian patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Fasting plasma homocysteine was measured by high‐pressure liquid chromatography with an electrochemical detector; methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase genotypes were determined by polymerase chain reaction and restriction enzyme digestion. The carotid intima‐media thickness was evaluated with high‐resolution B‐mode ultrasonography. Results Age, creatinine and plasma homocysteine levels showed a positive correlation with mean carotid intima‐media thickness values, but only age and creatinine levels were still associated with mean carotid intima‐media thickness values in the multivariate analysis. Plasma homocysteine levels were significantly higher in the patients bearing the 677T/677T genotype of the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase polymorphism; mean carotid intima‐media thickness values were not different in the three different methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase genotypes. Conclusion In 124 Italian patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus, basal levels of plasma homocysteine, as well as methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase gene polymorphism, did not explain the variability of mean carotid intima‐media thickness.