Genetic variants of the folate metabolic system and mild hyperhomocysteinemia may affect ADHD associated behavioral problems

Publication date: 8 June 2018 Source:Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology and Biological Psychiatry, Volume 84, Part A Author(s): Tanusree Saha, Mahasweta Chatterjee, Deepak Verma, Anirban Ray, Swagata Sinha, Usha Rajamma, Kanchan Mukhopadhyay An etiologically complex disorder, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), is often associated with various levels of cognitive deficit. Folate/vitamin B9 is crucial for numerous biochemical pathways including neural stem cell proliferation and differentiation, regulation of gene expression, neurotransmitter synthesis, myelin synthesis and repair, etc. and a scarcity has often been linked to cognitive deficit. Our pilot study in the field revealed significant association of few genetic variants with ADHD. Mild hyperhomocysteinemia and vitamin B12 deficiency was also noticed in the probands. In the present study additional genetic variants, folate and vitamin B6, which may affect folate-homocysteine metabolic pathway, were investigated in 866 individuals including nuclear families with ADHD probands (N =221) and ethnically matched controls (N =286) to find out whether ADHD associated traits are affected by these factors. Population based analysis revealed significant over representation of MTRR rs1801394 “G” allele and “GG” genotype in all as well as male probands. Stratified analysis showed significantly higher frequency of RFC1 rs1051266 and BHMT rs3733890 “AG” genotypes in full term and prematurely delive...
Source: Progress in Neuro Psychopharmacology and Biological Psychiatry - Category: Psychiatry Source Type: research