Influence of the C677T Polymorphism of the MTHFR Gene on Oxidative Stress in Women With Overweight or Obesity: Response to a Dietary Folate Intervention

• Published in: Journal of the American College of Nutrition Vol. 37; no. 8; pp. 677 - 684
• Main Authors: Ribeiro, Marina Ramalho, Lima, Raquel Patrícia Ataíde, Lisboa, Jéssica Vanessa de Carvalho, Chaves, Thamires Ribeiro, Luna, Rafaella Cristhine Pordeus, do Nascimento, Rayner Anderson Ferreira, de Oliveira, Yohanna, Persuhn, Darlene Camati, Sérgio da Silva, Alexandre, Gonçalves, Maria da Conceição Rodrigues, Ferreira, Flávia Emília Leite de Lima, Lima, Roberto Teixeira, da Silva Diniz, Alcides, de Almeida, Alessio Tony Cavalcanti, de Moraes, Ronei Marcos, Verly Junior, Eliseu, Costa, Maria José de Carvalho
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Taylor & Francis 17-11-2018
• Subjects: Dietary intake; folate; MTHFR C677T polymorphism; obesity; oxidative stress; folate; Dietary intake; MTHFR C677T polymorphism; obesity; oxidative stress
• ISSN: 0731-5724; 1541-1087
• DOI: 10.1080/07315724.2018.1460224

The C677T polymorphism of the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase gene (MTHFR) is related to folate metabolism and can alter the levels of biochemical markers.
Objective: Investigate the influence of the MTHFR C677T polymorphism on the effects of a dietary folate intervention on oxidative stress in women with overweight or obesity.
Methods: Forty-eight adult women with overweight or obesity were subjected to a 24-hour dietary recall, anthropometric measurements, biochemical analysis, and genotyping of the MTHFR C677T polymorphism. They were allocated by convenience sampling to 2 groups, which received 300 g of folate-rich vegetables containing 191 µg/d (Group 1) (n = 24) or 95 µg/d (Group 2) (n = 24) of folate for 8 weeks.
Results: The dietary intervention increased the serum folic acid levels in the 2 analyzed groups. The intervention with 191 µg/d of folate led to relevant results in terms of homocysteine levels (p = 0.0005) and total antioxidant capacity (p = 0.0261); the effect was larger among carriers of the TT genotype.
Conclusions: The study demonstrated the beneficial effect of folate intake in terms of a TAC elevation for the CC and TT genotypes of the MTHFR C677T polymorphism, an increase in folic acid levels for all genotypes, and a reduction in the Hcy levels for the TT genotype in response to an intervention consisting of an intake of 191 µg/d of folate supplied by vegetables.