Food Intervention with Folate Reduces TNF-α and Interleukin Levels in Overweight and Obese Women with the MTHFR C677T Polymorphism: A Randomized Trial

• Published in: Nutrients Vol. 12; no. 2; p. 361
• Main Authors: Lisboa, Jéssica Vanessa de Carvalho, Ribeiro, Marina Ramalho, Luna, Rafaella Cristhine Pordeus, Lima, Raquel Patrícia Ataíde, Nascimento, Rayner Anderson Ferreira do, Monteiro, Mussara Gomes Cavalcante Alves, Lima, Keylha Querino de Farias, Fechine, Carla Patrícia Novaes Dos Santos, Oliveira, Naila Francis Paulo de, Persuhn, Darlene Camati, Veras, Robson Cavalcante, Gonçalves, Maria da Conceição Rodrigues, Ferreira, Flávia Emília Leite de Lima, Lima, Roberto Teixeira, Silva, Alexandre Sérgio da, Diniz, Alcides da Silva, Almeida, Aléssio Tony Cavalcanti de, Moraes, Ronei Marcos de, Junior, Eliseu Verly, Costa, Maria José de Carvalho
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 30.01.2020; MDPI
• Subjects: Acids; Adult; Anthropometry; Biochemical analysis; Biomarkers; Body fat; Body weight; Clinical trials; Cytokines; Cytosine; Diet; Diet - methods; Diet Surveys; dietary intervention; Double-Blind Method; Eating behavior; Enzymes; Female; folate; Folic acid; Folic Acid - administration & dosage; Folic Acid - blood; Food; Food fortification; Gels; Gene polymorphism; Genes; genetic variants; Genotype; Genotype & phenotype; Genotypes; Genotyping; Homocysteine; Homocysteine - blood; Humans; IL-1β; Inflammation; Interleukin 6; Interleukin-1beta - blood; Interleukin-6 - blood; interleukins; Metabolism; Metabolites; Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase; Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (NADPH2) - genetics; Middle Aged; Nutrigenomics; Nutrition research; Obesity; Obesity - blood; Obesity - diet therapy; Obesity - genetics; overweight; Overweight - blood; Overweight - diet therapy; Overweight - genetics; Oxidative stress; Polyacrylamide; Polymorphism; Polymorphism, Genetic; Population; Questionnaires; Reductases; Socioeconomic factors; Thymine; tumor necrosis factor-alpha; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha - blood; Tumor necrosis factor-TNF; Tumor necrosis factor-α; Vegetables; Vitamin B; Vitamin B 12 - blood; Vitamin B12; genetic variants; tumor necrosis factor-alpha; folate; polymorphism; overweight; obesity; dietary intervention; interleukins
• ISSN: 2072-6643; 2072-6643
• DOI: 10.3390/nu12020361

Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase ( ) C677T polymorphism associated with body fat accumulation could possibly trigger an inflammatory process by elevating homocysteine levels and increasing cytokine production, causing several diseases. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of food intervention, and not folate supplements, on the levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) in overweight and obese women with the C677T polymorphism. A randomized, double-blind eight-week clinical trial of 48 overweight and obese women was conducted. Participants were randomly assigned into two groups. They received 300 g of vegetables daily for eight weeks containing different doses of folate: 95 µg/day for Group 1 and 191 µg/day for Group 2. C677T polymorphism genotyping was assessed by digestion with HinfI enzyme and on 12% polyacrylamide gels. Anthropometric measurements, 24-h dietary recall, and biochemical analysis (blood folic acid, vitamin B12, homocysteine (Hcy), TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6) were determined at the beginning and end of the study. Group 2 had a significant increase in folate intake ( < 0.001) and plasma folic acid ( < 0.05) for individuals with the cytosine-cytosine (CC), cytosine-thymine (CT), and thymine-thymine (TT) genotypes. However, only individuals with the TT genotype presented reduced levels of Hcy, TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β ( < 0.001). Group 1 showed significant differences in folate consumption ( < 0.001) and folic acid levels ( < 0.05) for individuals with the CT and TT genotypes. Food intervention with folate from vegetables increased folic acid levels and reduced interleukins, TNF-α, and Hcy levels, mainly for individuals with the TT genotype.