Components of the folate metabolic pathway and ADHD core traits: an exploration in eastern Indian probands

J Hum Genet. 2017 Jul;62(7):687-695. doi: 10.1038/jhg.2017.23. Epub 2017 Mar 2.

Abstract

We investigated role of the folate-homocysteine metabolic pathway in the etiology of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) due to its importance in maintaining DNA integrity as well as neurotransmission. Functional gene variants in MTR (rs1805087), CBS (rs5742905), MTHFR (rs1801133 &rs1801131), MTHFD (rs2236225), RFC1 (rs1051266), plasma vitamin B12, folate and homocysteine were analyzed. rs1805087 'A' showed strong association with ADHD. Vitamin B12 deficiency of ADHD probands (P=0.01) correlated with rs1801133 'T' and rs1805087'GG'. Mild hyperhomocysteinemia (P=0.05) in the probands was associated with rs1805087 'AA'. Probands having rs1805087 'GG' and rs1051266 'G' was more inattentive. Hyperactivity-impulsivity score revealed association with rs5742905 'TT' and rs2236225 'CC', while rs1801133 'CC' showed association with inattentiveness and hyperactivity-impulsivity. rs1801131 exhibited strong synergistic interaction with rs1051266 and rs2236225. This indicated that the folate-homocysteine pathway gene variants may affect ADHD etiology through mild hyperhomocysteinemia and vitamin B12 deficiency, factors known to be associated with cognitive deficit.

MeSH terms

  • Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / blood
  • Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / metabolism*
  • Behavior
  • Birth Weight
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Epistasis, Genetic
  • Female
  • Folic Acid / blood
  • Folic Acid / metabolism*
  • Gene Frequency / genetics
  • Humans
  • India
  • Intelligence Tests
  • Linkage Disequilibrium / genetics
  • Male
  • Metabolic Networks and Pathways*
  • Metabolome
  • Phenotype
  • Vitamin B 12 / blood

Substances

  • Folic Acid
  • Vitamin B 12