Association of C677T polymorphism in methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) with varicose veins in Mazandaran population

Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) is one of the key enzymes in the metabolism of folate, and the mutation of C677T leads to reduction of MTHFR enzyme activity and increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between C677T polymorphism in MTHFR gene and some non-genetic factors and varicose veins. In this case-control study, 80 patients with varicose veins and 150 healthy subjects were studied. After extraction of DNA from peripheral blood, genotyping was performed by PCR-RFLP. Demographic data such as family history, sex, age, weight, work duration, defecation status, exercise, blood pressure, cigarette smoking were also recorded. Logistic regression method was used to investigate the association between varicose veins disease and C677T genotypes and other recorded variables. Genotype frequencies of C677T in MTHFR gene in patients and control groups was not significantly different (p>0.05). The frequency of mutant allele in two groups was equal to 19%. The association between C577T genotype and varicose veins was not significant (p>0.05), however family history, weight, work duration and constipation was related to varicose veins (p<0.05). There was no association between varicose veins and exercise, age, blood pressure, sex and cigarette smoking (p>0.05). The polymorphism of C677T in MTHFR gene was not a determinant factor of the varicose veins disease in Mazandaran population.