Homocysteine, folate, methylene tetrahydrofolate reductase genotype and vascular morbidity in diabetic subjects

In the present study, the determinants of fasting plasma homocysteine in diabetic subjects were examined; whether plasma homocysteine and vascular disease are related and the influence of the C677T polymorphism in the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene on serum and erythrocyte folate, plasma homocysteine and vascular disease. Diabetic clinic subjects (Type I, n = 354; Type II, n = 392) were recalled for a cross-sectional survey. Standard methods were used to measure biochemical variables and to characterize vascular disease and MTHFR genotype. Plasma homocysteine was significantly and directly related to age, male sex and serum urea, and inversely related to serum folate and vitamin B12, independently in stepwise regression. When corrected for age and sex, homocysteine was significantly related to hard end points of coronary artery disease and stroke (each P