Role of MTHFR C677T gene polymorphism in the susceptibility of schizophrenia: An updated meta-analysis

Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) is the key enzyme of folate/homocysteine metabolic pathway. C677T polymorphism of MTHFR gene was reported as risk factor for congenital defects, metabolic and neuropsychiatric disorders. Numerous case-control studies investigated C677T polymorphism as risk factor for schizophrenia but results of these studies were contradictory. To draw a conclusion, a meta-analysis of all available case-control studies was performed. PubMed, Google Scholar, Springer Link and Elsevier databases were searched for eligible case-control studies. Pooled odds ratio with 95%CI was used as an association measure and all statistical analyses were performed by Open Meta-Analyst and MIX software. Total 38 studies with 10,069 cases and 13,372 controls were included in the present meta-analysis. Results of meta-analysis showed significant associated between C677T polymorphism and risk of schizophrenia (ORTvsC=1.18, 95%CI=1.10-1.27, p=<0.001; ORCTvsCC=1.10, 95%CI=1.04-1.17, p=<0.001; ORTTvsCC=1.40, 95%CI=1.20-1.64, p=<0.001; ORTT+CTvsCC=1.19, 95%CI=1.09-1.30, p=<0.001). We also performed subgroup and sensitivity analyses. Subgroup analysis was done according to ethnicity and significant association was found between C677T polymorphism and risk of schizophrenia in all three ethnic populations-African (OR=2.51; 95%CI=1.86-3.40; p=<0.001), Asian (OR=1.21; 95%CI=1.10-1.33; p=<0.001) and Caucasian (OR=1.07; 95%CI=1.01-1.14; p=0.01). In conclusion the results of the present meta-analysis suggested that the MTHFR C677T polymorphism is a risk factor for schizophrenia.