A study of the role of methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR)‎ gene polymorphism in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

Abstract EN

Background: ADHD is a neuro-behavioral disorder that is typically manifested during childhood and often persists into adulthood, it is a complex disorder influenced by many genes, genetic and environmental risk factors co-occurring in a non-random fashion.

The MTHFR gene C677T polymorphism affects both nucleotide synthesis and DNA methylation, and is associated with reduced folate bioavailability and folate metabolites.

Objectives: To assess the relationship between Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (MTHFR) gene polymorphisms (C667T) allele and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in a sample of Egyptian children.

Methodology: Out of 402 reviewed patients regularly attending the Psychiatric clinic, Faculty of Postgraduate Studies for Childhood - Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt.

According to criteria of inclusion and exclusion a sample of 30 ADHD children were enrolled in this study.

The patients were selected by simple random sample during the period from January to August, 2015 with age ranged from 6- to 12-year old.

A matching number of 30 healthy children with normal developmental and psychiatric evaluation, of comparable age and sex, were randomly recruited as a study control.

MTHFR gene polymorphism (C677T) allele was investigated in the selected sample.

Results: There was heterozygous advantage (Heterosis) regarding C677T allele genotype, a statistically significant association was found in control group compared to ADHD cases (p=0.0159).

The ADHD group revealed statistically significant family history of medical illness (10%) and psychiatric illness (8.33%) (p=0.0248) compared to control group.

Conclusions: The study found no association between ADHD phenotype and the MTHFR C677T gene polymorphism in Egyptian children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

There was positive link between ADHD and family history of medical and psychiatric illness.