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Sunday, April 8, 2007

Significant impact of MTHFR C677T polymorphism on plasma homovanillic acid (HVA) levels among alcohol-dependent patients
Addiction Biology 12 (1), 100–105.


The enzyme 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) synthesizes 5-methyltetrahydrofolate. It plays a critical role in homocysteine metabolism. A high impact of MTHFR C677T polymorphism on plasma homocysteine levels has been observed among alcoholics.

Recent studies indicate that homocysteine has toxic effects on dopaminergic neurons. Thus it lowers levels of homovanillic acid (HVA) in the striatal region in rats. Alcoholics had significantly lower plasma HVA concentrations compared with healthy controls.

Aim of this study is to elucidate whether HVA plasma levels in alcoholics are influenced by MTHFR C677T polymorphism.

The data suggest an influence of MTHFR C677T polymorphism on plasma HVA among alcohol-dependent patients. This might be due to neurotoxic effects of homocysteine on the dopaminergic system or direct impairment of monoamine metabolism.

Future studies should try to elucidate whether this effect is reversible during alcohol abstinence.

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E-mail: Ulrich.lutz@med.uni-tuebingen.de

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