Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase gene polymorphisms in Burkina Faso.

In Burkina Faso, the levels of plasma homocysteine (Hcy) are lower and the methionine loading tests suggest a more effective Hcy metabolism [1,2]. We found a relevant difference in the allele frequencies of C677T: T 7.7% in the young and 3.3% in old subjects respectively (see Table 1). Frequencies of C677T genotypes in old and young individuals were in Hardy Weinberg equilibrium (HWE). The difference between allele frequencies of 1298C allele in the two groups was not significant (P=0.752). The observed frequencies of AA, AC and CC in old subjects were not in HWE (Expected vs. Observed: X2=12.944, P= 0.002). The young subjects subdivided by genotype showed different but not significant level of Hcy (CC=5.9F1.9; CT=6.88F1.33; TT=9.52 Amol/L). The old subjects, who had higher plasma values of Hcy, showed comparable levels between CC and CT genotypes (18.9F7.02 and 18.7F1.97 Amol/L respectively). Besides, in young subjects after methionine loading test, the level of Hcy was significantly