The relationships between plasma total homocysteine and selected atherosclerotic risk factors according to the C677T methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase gene in Japanese

BACKGROUND Variation of plasma total homocysteine (tHcy) levels among individuals is modified by 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) genotypes and selected atherosclerotic risk factors. DESIGN Cross-sectional study. METHODS Healthy Japanese men (n=213) and women (n=242) aged 40-69 years were examined. RESULTS Serum uric acid, hemoglobin, hematocrit, serum creatinine, and men were independently significantly associated with plasma tHcy. The relationship between serum uric acid and plasma tHcy was the strongest in those with the mutant homozygote (VV), but the overall statistical test of interaction was not significant. CONCLUSIONS Serum uric acid, hematocrit, hemoglobin, creatinine, and men were determinants of plasma tHcy levels. Further investigations are needed.