Gene-environment Interactions Between Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (MTHFR) 677C>T and Metabolic Syndrome for the Prevalence of Ischemic Stroke in Koreans

Although metabolic syndrome (MS) is recognized as a risk factor for ischemic stroke, little is known about genetic variants that confer susceptibility to ischemic stroke among individuals with or without MS. This study was completed to investigate whether the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) 677C>T polymorphism is associated with MS as a risk factor for ischemic stroke in the Korean population. The prevalence of MS was significantly higher in ischemic stroke patients than controls (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]=1.420; 95% confidence interval [CI]=1.017-1.982, P=0.040). MS prevalence was also significantly different between patients with subtypes of small-artery occlusion (AOR=1.707; 95% CI=1.081-2.695, P=0.022) and large-artery occlusion (AOR=1.661; 95% CI=1.089-2.534, P=0.019) versus controls. The frequencies of the MTHFR 677 TT genotype (AOR=3.001; 95% CI=1.487-6.057, P=0.002) and CT genotype (AOR=1.772; 95% CI=1.053-2.983, P=0.031) of the MS group, and for the CC genotype in those without MS were significantly different between the ischemic stroke patients and controls. The MTHFR 677C>T polymorphism was associated with a higher risk of MS among ischemic stroke patients in the Korean population.