Associations of Serum Total Homocysteine Levels with Various Demographic, Clinical and Genetic Characteristics in Healthy Greek Adults

Mazokopakis, Elias E.; Papadomanolaki, Maria G.; Papadakis, John A.

doi:10.14712/18059694.2023.17

Acta Medica > Archive > 2023, Vol. 66 > Issue 2 > Associations of Serum Total Homocysteine…

Acta Med. 2023, 66: 61-67

https://doi.org/10.14712/18059694.2023.17

Associations of Serum Total Homocysteine Levels with Various Demographic, Clinical and Genetic Characteristics in Healthy Greek Adults

Elias E. Mazokopakis^a,b, Maria G. Papadomanolaki^c, John A. Papadakis^d

^aDepartment of Internal Medicine, Naval Hospital of Crete, Chania, Greece
^bPrivate Medical Office of Internal Medicine, Chania, Greece
^cSchool of Production Engineering and Management, Technical University of Crete, Chania, Greece
^dDepartment of Internal Medicine, University Hospital of Heraklion, Heraklion, Greece

Received October 27, 2022
Accepted August 21, 2023

Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate the association of serum total Hcy (tHcy) levels with various demographic, clinical and genetic characteristics in healthy Greek adults. Methods: Anthropometric characteristics (height, weight), systolic and diastolic blood pressure, complete blood count and biochemical assessments, were recorded and measured among 383 Greek adults (199 men). Serum folate, Cobalamin (Cbl) and tHcy levels were determined using immunoassays methods. The MTHFR C677T and A1298C gene polymorphisms were genotyped using polymerase chain reaction and reverse hybridization. Results: MTHFR C677T gene polymorphism, serum folate and Cbl levels were correlated with serum tHcy levels independently. The individuals with 677TT genotype had significantly higher serum tHcy levels than individuals with 677 CC or CT genotypes. Regarding the MTHFR C677T gene polymorphism, the existence of the T allele was associated with statistically significantly lower serum folate and higher serum tHcy levels than C allele. Regarding the MTHFR A1298C gene polymorphism, the existence of the C allele was associated with statistically significant lower serum tHcy levels than A allele. Furthermore, there was no significant correlation between the serum tHcy levels and demographic (except age) or clinical characteristics (sex, BMI, smoking status, SBP, DBP, HGB, HCT, TC, TG, HDL-C, LDL-C, TC/HDL-C). Conclusions: Serum tHcy levels are influenced by the existence of MTHFR C677T gene polymorphism (mainly 677TT genotype), serum folate and Cbl levels. Individuals with hyperhomocysteinemia should be further investigated for the existence of MTHFR C677T gene polymorphism, with the aim to determine the suitable treatment.

Keywords

cobalamin, folate, homocysteine, MTHFR C677T, MTHFR A1298C.

Funding

The authors thank all the subjects who participated in this study. They also express their gratitude to the director and laboratory staff of the Department of Biopathology and Microbiology of the Naval Hospital of Crete, the Blood Donation Laboratory of the General Hospital of Chania “St. George”, the private Clinical Laboratory “BIOEREYNA DIAGNOSTIC LABORATORIES”, and the private Molecular Genetics Laboratory “ELEFTHO” in Chania, Crete, Greece.