Association betweenMTHFRC677T/A1298C and susceptibility to autism spectrum disorders: a meta-analysis

Background Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is becoming increasingly prevalent of late. Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) has a significant role in folate metabolism. Owing to the inconsistencies and inconclusiveness on the association betweenMTHFRsingle nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) and ASD susceptibilities, a meta-analysis was conducted to settle the inconsistencies. Methods For this meta-analysis, a total of 15 manuscripts published up to January 26, 2020, were selected from PubMed, Google Scholar, Medline, WangFang, and CNKI databases using search terms MTHFR OR methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase AND ASD OR Autism Spectrum Disorders OR Autism AND polymorphism OR susceptibility OR C677T OR A1298C. Results The findings of the meta-analysis indicated thatMTHFRC677T polymorphism is remarkably associated with ASD in the five genetic models, viz., allelic, dominant, recessive, heterozygote, and homozygote. However, theMTHFRA1298C polymorphism was not found to be significantly related to ASD in the five genetic models. Subgroup analyses revealed significant associations of ASD with theMTHFR(C677T and A1298C) polymorphism. Sensitivity analysis showed that this meta-analysis was stable and reliable. No publication bias was identified in the associations betweenMTHFRC677T polymorphisms and ASD in the five genetic models, except for the one with regard to the associations betweenMTHFRA1298C polymorphisms and ASD in the five genetic models. Conclusion This meta-analysis showed thatMTHFRC677T polymorphism is a susceptibility factor for ASD, andMTHFRA1298C polymorphism is not associated with ASD susceptibility.