Abstract
ObjectivesTo investigate the associations among the methylene tetrahydrofolate reductase rs1801133 C677T gene variant, food groups, and the risk of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in the Chinese population.MethodsA study of gene polymorphism was conducted using the polymerase chain reaction method. A total of 4,049 adults participated in the study, and all underwent physical examination and genotyping. Participants filled out a dietary questionnaire to enable us to assess the frequency and quantity of food consumption.ResultsThe important variables identified as risk factors of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease were age, smoking, sex, body mass index, hyperlipidemia, diabetes, and methylene tetrahydrofolate reductase genotype (T – allele carriers). The homocysteine content was higher in the non-alcoholic fatty liver disease group than in the control group, and was higher in the T- allele than C- allele carriers. The homocysteine content was the highest in the T- allele carriers. Additionally, certain food groups such as milk and beans were associated with a lower risk of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Food groups such as meat, were associated with a higher risk of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Fresh fruit and vegetables, salted and smoked foods, desserts, cereals, fish, and eggs were not associated with the risk of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. However, the influence of salted and smoked foods on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease was different in the C-allele and T-allele carriers of methylene tetrahydrofolate reductase (CT + TT vs. CC, OR = 1.196, P = 0.041 for 1–4 times food per week, OR = 1.580, P = 0.004 for 5–7 times per week). Similarly, salted and smoked foods were also a risk factor for the development of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.ConclusionThis study found that the T-allele of the C677T variant of methylene tetrahydrofolate reductase was a risk factor for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease among Chinese people. These results can likely aid the development of novel approaches for managing non-alcoholic fatty liver disease risk.
Highlights
The prevalence of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is increasing worldwide (Younossi et al, 2016; Subada et al, 2018)
The lack of choline can lead to hyperhomocysteinemia and NAFLD (Leclercq et al, 2000; Liu et al, 2014), and the Methylene tetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) rs1801133 C677T gene variant has been associated with choline status (Abratte et al, 2008)
Liver fibrosis is the main cause of mortality in patients with non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), and the BARD score was used to recognize patients that are at high risk of developing advanced fibrosis (Harrison et al, 2008)
Summary
The prevalence of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is increasing worldwide (Younossi et al, 2016; Subada et al, 2018). The MTHFR rs1801133 C677T gene variant is associated with enzyme activity (Wan et al, 2018). The lack of choline can lead to hyperhomocysteinemia and NAFLD (Leclercq et al, 2000; Liu et al, 2014), and the MTHFR rs1801133 C677T gene variant has been associated with choline status (Abratte et al, 2008). We systematically analyzed the associations between MTHFR rs1801133 C677T gene variant and food groups in relation to the risk of NAFLD in the Chinese population. We hope that these results will provide novel ideas for the management of NAFLD risk
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