High prevalence of hyperhomocysteinemia in chronic alcoholism: the importance of the thermolabile form of the enzyme methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) |
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| Institution: | 1. Servicio de Laboratorio, Hospital Universitario de Canarias, Universidad de La Laguna, 38320, Tenerife, Spain;2. Servicio de Medicina Interna, Hospital Universitario de Canarias, Universidad de La Laguna, 38320, Tenerife, Spain;1. Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Uludag University, Bursa 16059, Turkey;2. Medical-Surgical Research Center, Agricultural Faculty, Osmangazi University Eski?ehir, Turkey;3. Departament de Medicina i Cirurgia Animals, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193, Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain;4. Department of Pharmacology, Medical Faculty, Uludag University, Bursa, Turkey;5. Department of Veterinary Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Uludag University, Bursa, Turkey;6. Interdisciplinary Laboratory of Clinical Analysis (Interlab-UMU), Veterinary School, Campus of Excellence Mare Nostrum, University of Murcia, 30100 Espinardo, Murcia, Spain;1. Department of Animal Sciences and Industry, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, 66506, USA;2. Department of Chemistry, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, 66506, USA;3. Department of Anatomy and Physiology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, 66506, USA;4. Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA;5. Department of Animal Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32611, USA;1. Adnan Menderes University, Faculty of Veterinery Medicine, Department of Biochemistry, Turkey;2. Adnan Menderes University, Faculty of Veterinery Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Turkey |
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| Abstract: | Alcoholism is related to malnutrition and low levels of several vitamins that take part in the metabolism of homocysteine. The objective of the study was to analyze the prevalence of hyperhomocysteinemia in patients with heavy alcohol intake and the factors on which it depends. Included in the study were 103 hospitalized heavy drinkers (i.e., patients with an intake of alcohol greater than 80 g per day). Serum homocysteine, folate, and vitamin B12 levels, plasma vitamin B6 levels, and CT677 polymorphisms of methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) were determined. We also recorded the intensity of alcoholism, the status of nutrition, and the existence of liver cirrhosis. Determination of biochemical data was repeated after 15 days of withdrawal. Serum homocysteine levels were found to be significantly elevated, whereas serum folate and plasma B6 levels were significantly decreased. Serum homocysteine levels were significantly higher in those heavy drinkers who showed the TT polymorphism of MTHFR, with a prevalence of hyperhomocysteinemia of 84.2% in the homozygote TT, 54.3% in the heterozygote CT, and 31.6% in the normal CC genotype. Serum homocysteine inversely correlated with serum folate, serum B12, and plasma B6 levels. We did not find any relation between serum homocysteine and intensity of alcoholism, nutritional status, or liver cirrhosis. Serum folate levels were significantly decreased in heavy drinkers, mainly depending on irregular feeding and malnutrition. After 15 days of withdrawal, serum homocysteine levels significantly decreased, whereas folate, B12, and B6 levels significantly increased. The conclusion is that heavy drinkers show a high prevalence of hyperhomocysteinemia related to low levels of folate, B6, and B12 and to the TT polymorphism of MTHFR. © 2001 Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved. |
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