A12999 The Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase C677T Gene Variant as a Risk Factor for Hypertension in a Rural Indonesian-Sundanese Population

Abstract

Objectives: Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (MTHFR) C677T gene variant is associated with hypertension depending on ethnic and geographic region. Several studies found that the affordable and widely available riboflavin or vitamin B2 as a cofactor of MTHFR could lower blood pressure in patients with MTHFR variants. The benefits of risk stratification and therapeutic potential made it interesting to be studied. No study of MTHFR C677T variant effect on hypertension is available in Indonesia. This study sought to determine the association of MTHFR C677T gene variant and hypertension in rural Sundanese population of Gunung Sari Village, Bogor-Indonesia. Methods: A total of 415 subjects consisting of 213 hypertensive subjects and 202 non-hypertensive subjects as a control group were enrolled in this population based case-control study. The genotypes of the MTHFR C677T were determined by a TaqMan assay. Odds ratio with 95 % confidence interval was used to assess the risk of association. Results: There was a significant difference of MTHFR C677T variant between hypertensive group and control group; 62.9% CC; 34.3% CT; 2.8% TT vs 77.7% CC; 20.8% CT; 1.5% TT with p = 0.004; and mutant (TT and CT) vs wild type genotype (CC) with p = 0.001 respectively. After adjustment of age, body mass index, waist circumference, and diabetes mellitus, there was an association between MTHFR C677T variant with hypertension (OR 2.1; 95% CI 1.3–3.5). Conclusion: MTHFR C677T gene variant increased the risk of hypertension in rural Indonesian-Sundanese population. Further studies in different areas in Indonesia may be conducted.