Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase C677T polymorphism and the risk of male infertility: a meta-analysis

Objective The methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase gene C677T polymorphism is closely related to the acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Several case–control studies have investigated this association; however, no conclusions could be drawn. A comprehensive updated meta-analysis is established to explain these contradictions and clarify the overall impact of this variant on the susceptibility to acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Methods Electronic searches were conducted to select published studies prior to June 2018. Pooled odds ratios and stratification analysis were performed under different genetic comparison models, age, and ethnicity. Results Totally, 66 case–control studies including 9619 acute lymphoblastic leukemia cases and 17,396 controls were selected. Our analyses showed that methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase C677T polymorphism was protective mainly in Asian and European countries, under all genetic models and regardless of age, but leukemogenic in mixed population. Conclusion Thus, C677T polymorphism may be a promising acute lymphoblastic leukemia biomarker, but they should be interpreted with caution considering other factors such as folic acid intake, gene–gene and gene–environment interactions.

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Association of the MTHFR 677C>T and 1298A>C polymorphisms and male infertility risk: a meta-analysis

Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology ◽

10.1186/s12958-020-00649-1 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 18 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Fereshteh Aliakbari ◽

Farkhondeh Pouresmaeili ◽

Nahal Eshghifar ◽

Zahra Zolghadr ◽

Faezeh Azizi

Keyword(s):

Male Infertility ◽

Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Case Control ◽

Inclusion Criteria ◽

Case Control Studies ◽

Crude Odds Ratio ◽

Mthfr Polymorphism ◽

Gene Environment ◽

The Relationship

Abstract Background and objectives One of the possible male sterility risk factors are polymorphisms of Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR). However, the epidemiologic investigations described inconsistent results regarding MTHFR polymorphism and the risk of male infertility. For that reason, we carried out a meta-analysis of published case-control studies to re-examine the controversy. Methods Electronic searches of Cochrane, EMBASE, Google Scholar, and PubMed were conducted to select eligible studies for this meta-analysis (updated to May 2019). According to our exclusion and inclusion criteria, only high-quality studies that remarked the association between MTHFR polymorphisms and male infertility risk were included. The Crude odds ratio (OR) with a confidence interval of 95% (CI) was used to assess the relationship between MTHFR polymorphism and male infertility risk. Results Thirty-four case-control studies with 9662 cases and 9154 controls concerning 677C/T polymorphism and 22 case-control studies with 5893 cases and 6303 controls concerning 1298A/C polymorphism were recruited. Both MTHFR polymorphisms had significant associations with male infertility risk (CT + TT vs. CC: OR = 1.37, 95% CI: 1.21–1.55, P = 0.00, I2 = 41.9%); (CC vs. CA + AA: OR = 0.82, 95% CI: 0.52–1.30, P = 0.04, I2 = 50.1%). Further, when stratified by ethnicity, the significant association results were observed in Asians and Caucasians for 677C/T and just Asians for 1298A/C. Conclusions Some of MTHFR polymorphisms like MTHFR 677C > T are associated with an elevated male infertility risk. To confirm our conclusion and to provide more accurate and complete gene-environment communication with male infertility risk, more analytical studies are needed.

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