text: C677T polymorphism of the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase gene does not affect folic acid, vitamin B12, and homocysteine serum levels in Turkish children with neural tube defects.
  Association between neural tube defects (NTDs) and C677T polymorphism of the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene was suspected, because the MTHFR gene codes for a key enzyme in folate metabolism. Its deficiency usually leads to significant reductions in plasma concentrations of folate, vitamin B(12) and methionine, whereas homocysteine levels are increased. We examined folate, vitamin B(12) and homocysteine serum concentrations and polymorphism of the C677T MTHFR gene in Turkish children with neural tube defects. Thirty-three children with NTDs, 26 mothers and 48 healthy individuals were studied. C677T MTHFR polymorphism was determined by melting curve analyses (LightCycler). The levels of folate, vitamin B(12) and homocysteine serum concentrations in NTDs were evaluated and compared, along with information concerning alleles of the MTHFR gene. C677T allele frequencies in NTD children and their mothers were similar to those found in controls. Serum folate and vitamin B(12) concentrations were significantly higher in NTD children than that of controls. Serum homocysteine concentrations were not significantly higher in NTD children and mothers. We concluded that C677T MTHFR gene polymorphism does not affect folic acid, vitamin B(12) and homocysteine metabolism in Turkish children with NTDs. C677T polymorphism of the MTHFR gene cannot be regarded as a major risk factor for NTDs in Turkish children.
entities.id: T10 T11 T12 T13 T14 T15 T16 T17 T18 T19 T1 T20 T21 T22 T23 T24 T25 T26 T27 T28 T29 T2 T30 T31 T32 T33 T34 T35 T36 T37 T38 T3 T4 T5 T6 T7 T8 T9
entities.type: CHEMICAL CHEMICAL CHEMICAL CHEMICAL CHEMICAL CHEMICAL CHEMICAL CHEMICAL CHEMICAL CHEMICAL CHEMICAL CHEMICAL CHEMICAL CHEMICAL GENE-Y GENE-N GENE-Y GENE-N GENE-Y GENE-Y GENE-N CHEMICAL GENE-Y GENE-N GENE-N GENE-Y GENE-Y GENE-Y GENE-N GENE-N GENE-Y CHEMICAL CHEMICAL CHEMICAL CHEMICAL CHEMICAL CHEMICAL CHEMICAL
entities.text: folate vitamin B(12) homocysteine folate vitamin B(12) homocysteine methylenetetrahydrofolate folate vitamin B(12) homocysteine homocysteine methylenetetrahydrofolate folic acid vitamin B12 MTHFR C677T MTHFR C677T MTHFR MTHFR C677T folic acid MTHFR C677T C677T MTHFR methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase MTHFR C677T C677T methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase vitamin B(12) homocysteine folate folate vitamin B(12) methionine homocysteine