Original scientific paper

INFLUENCE OF DIETARY PATTERN AND METHYLENTETRAHYDROFOLATE REDUCTASE C677T POLYMORPHISM ON THE PLASMA HOMOCYSTEINE LEVEL AMONG HEALTHY VEGETARIANS AND OMNIVORES

Silvija Zec Sambol orcid.org/0000-0001-6730-1017 ; General practice, Zametskog korena 36, Rijeka, Croatia
Maja Obrovac Glišić ; University Hospital Center Rijeka, Department of Food Service and Dietetics, Krešimirova 42, Rijeka, Croatia
Nina Marković Bašić ; General practice, Srdoči 54, Rijeka, Croatia
Štefica Dvornik ; University of Rijeka, Faculty of Medicine, Braće Branchetta 20, Rijeka, Croatia
Blaženka Grahovac ; University of Rijeka, Faculty of Medicine, Braće Branchetta 20, Rijeka, Croatia
Sanja Skočić Mihić orcid.org/0000-0001-6070-0170 ; Universtity of Rijeka, Faculty of Teacher Education, Sveučilišna avenija 6, Rijeka, Croatia
Davor Štimac ; University Hospital Center Rijeka, Department of Internal Medicine, Krešimirova 42, Rijeka, Croatia

Abstract

Elevated total plasma homocysteine level (Hcy) is associated with physiological and dietary factors
as well as the genetic defect of enzymes involved in Hcy metabolism. The objectives of the study
were to examine (1) differences between healthy vegetarian and omnivorous subjects in relation to
biochemical parameters, prevalence of the MTHFR (methylentetrahydrofolate reductase) T/T genotype,
and the plasma Hcy level, and (2) the effects of the MTHFR C677T polymorphism and dietary
pattern on the plasma Hcy level. In 47 vegetarian and 53 omnivorous subjects the plasma level of
Hcy, folate, vitamin B12, glucose, total cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL and LDL-cholesterol and creatinine
were measured. MTHFR C677T polymorphisms were analyzed using the PCR-RFLP method.
Obtained results have shown that vegetarians had lower vitamin B12, total cholesterol, LDLcholesterol
and creatinine status. The plasma Hcy level was higher among vegetarians compared with
omnivore subjects (14.10±6.69 vs. 10.49±2.41 μmol/L) and negatively correlated with vitamin B12
status and folate. The plasma Hcy level did not differ between the given MTHFR C677T genotypes
among either vegetarians or omnivores. Unlike the MTHFR C677T polymorphism, the effect of dietary
pattern on plasma Hcy level was confirmed. It could be concluded that vegetarians tend to have
lower vitamin B12 status and a higher plasma Hcy level. The MTHFR 677C/T polymorphism has no
effect on plasma Hcy level, in contrast to dietary pattern which indicates the importance of adequate
vitamin B12 and folate status in bypassing the mutation.

Keywords

folate; homocysteine; MTHFR C677T polymorphism; vegetarian diet; vitamin B12

Hrčak ID:

198892

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/198892

Publication date:

31.12.2017.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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