Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductae Genetic Polymorphim in Patient With Cataract

Purpoe Hyperhomocyteinemia i commonly aociated with polymorphim in the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductae (MTHFR) gene. The level of homocyteine can be lowered by dietary intake of folate. A protective effect of folate upplementation ha been reported againt cataract. Here we invetigate MTHFR polymorphim in human cataract. Deign Retropective cae-control aociation tudy. Method Patient with nuclear (n = 77), cortical (n = 155), poterior ubcapular (n = 119), and mixed (n = 151) cataract, and 187 control were analyzed for the MTHFR 677C→T and 1298A→C polymorphim uing miniequencing technique. Reult The wild-type MTHFR 677CC/1298AA genotype wa trongly overrepreented among cataract cae (P = .003). Thi effect wa mot pronounced in the mixed cataract group (P < .001). Hyperhomocyteinemia-aociated genotype had imilar frequencie in cataract and control group. Concluion The previouly reported protective effect of folate againt cataract i not due to overrepreentation of hyperhomocyteinemia-aociated MTHFR genotype. Intead, the trong predominance of wild-type MTHFR in cataract may ugget impaired DNA ynthei a a cataractogenic factor.