Relationship between Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase C677T Gene Polymorphism and Autism Susceptibility: A Meta-Analysis

Abstract

To explore the correlation between 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase C677T gene polymorphism and autism susceptibility and to provide the evidence-based medicine for the prevention and treatment of autism. The retrieval database includes the VIP Chinese Science and Technology journal database, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang database, PubMed, Wiley online library and Web of science. Chinese retrieval form: “Autism” and “methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase”. English retrieval form: “methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase”) and (“autism” or “autism spectrum disorders”) and (“C677T” or “polymorphism” or “genotype”). The retrieved time was till June 30, 2020 and the languages were limited to Chinese or English. Stata 12.0 software was used for meta-analysis, the evaluation indexes including heterogeneity test, merged effect, sensitivity analysis and publication bias evaluation. Based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 11 articles were included in the analysis. The meta-analysis shows that T/C allele odds ratio=0.56 (p<0.001), indicating that the T allele of methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase C677T may be an Autism spectrum disorder risk factor. The odds ratio of genotype CT vs. CC was 1.44 (p<0.001), the odds ratio of genotype TT vs. CC was 3.05 (p<0.001), the odds ratio of genotype TT+CT vs. CC was 1.81 (p<0.001), the odds ratio of genotype TT vs. CT+CC was 2.52 (p<0.001). CT, TT and TT+CT genotypes were positively correlated with autism susceptibility, indicating that CT, TT and TT+CT genotypes may increase the risk of autism susceptibility. Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase C677T gene polymorphism has a positive correlation with autism susceptibility.