Prospective study of MTHFR genetic polymorphisms as a possible etiology of male infertility

Genet Mol Res. 2014 Mar 24;13(3):6367-74. doi: 10.4238/2014.March.24.26.

Abstract

The aim of this study was to explore the relationship between 2 genetic polymorphisms of the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase gene (MTHFR), C677T and A1298C, and determine the long-term reproductive outcome in infertile men. This was a prospective study conducted in an andrology clinic. Men with a 1-year history of infertility were assessed for the MTHFR polymorphisms at a 5-year follow-up. We compared the MTHFR C677T and A1298C polymorphisms by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism between men who did and did not bear children during follow-up. Of the 215 men who were infertile at 1 year, 82 (38.1%) remained infertile and 133 (61.9%) achieved natural conception during the 5-year follow-up, with the highest rate in the first year (32.6%). The MTHFR 677TT genotype (homozygote) was associated with a substantially increased risk of infertility during follow-up [odds ratio (OR) = 10.242; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.257-83.464] relative to the MTHFR 677CC genotype (wild-type). Risk of infertility was not increased by the MTHFR A1298C polymorphism alone, but was increased by the combination of polymorphisms MTHFR C677T and MTHFR A1298C (OR = 11.818; 95%CI = 1.415-98.674). The homozygous MTHFR C677T genotype was a risk factor for male infertility during 5-year follow-up, whereas a correlation between MTHFR A1298C and infertility was not observed. The MTHFR C677T and MTHFR A1298C polymorphisms had additive effects on male infertility.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Gene Expression
  • Gene Frequency
  • Genetic Predisposition to Disease*
  • Genotype
  • Homozygote
  • Humans
  • Infertility, Male / genetics*
  • Infertility, Male / physiopathology
  • Male
  • Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (NADPH2) / genetics*
  • Odds Ratio
  • Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide*
  • Prospective Studies
  • Risk Factors

Substances

  • MTHFR protein, human
  • Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (NADPH2)