Hyperhomocysteinemia and elevated ox-LDL in Tunisian type 2 diabetic patients: Role of genetic and dietary factors

Introduction: Total plasma homocysteine (tHcy) is all emerging risk factor for the development of atherosclerosis. However, its relationship with diabetes is still unclear. Objectives: We evaluated the association between tHcy levels and methylenetetrahydrofol ate reductase (MTHFR) 677C -> T genotype in a type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) population and their relationship with oxidized LDL (ox-LDL) according to dietary habits and vascular complications. Design and methods: Eighty-six DM patients were compared to 120 healthy volunteers. Results: Associated higher tHcy levels and significantly higher ox-LDL levels (p < 0.001) were found in DM patients cornpared to healthy subjects. Homozygosity for the T allele of MTHFR was more frequent in diabetics than in healthy subjects (12.8% vs. 7.2%) and it was associated with higher tHey levels. Moreover, this elevated level was associated with significantly higher ox-LDL levels in DM patients with hypertension (p < 0.05). Improving folate and vitamin C intakes could have beneficial effects on lowering the tHcy and ox-LDL levels. Conclusions: The interplay of genetic and dietary factors modulates the effect of homocysteine oil cardiovascular risk factors. (c) 2007 The Canadian Society of Clinical Chemists. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.