Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (MTHFR) C677T and A1298C Polymorphisms and Age of Onset in Schizophrenia: A Combined Analysis of Independent Samples

Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) is involved in the one-carbon cycle, which is of importance for nucleotide synthesis and methylation of DNA, membranes, proteins and lipids. The MTHFR gene includes two common polymorphisms (rs1801133 or C677T; rs1801131 or A1298C) which both alter enzyme activity. The T-allele of the C677T polymorphism has recently been associated with earlier age at onset of schizophrenia. In the present study we examined the association between the MTHFR C677T and A1298C polymorphisms and age at onset of schizophrenia in twelve samples consisting of 3,213 unrelated schizophrenia patients, including the original Scandinavian sample. There was no consistent relationship between MTHFR C677T, A1298C or combined 677T/1298C carriers and age of onset in schizophrenia when the results of each study were combined using meta-analysis. The present results suggest that the investigated MTHFR polymorphisms do not influence age of onset in schizophrenia. (C) 2011 Wiley-Liss, Inc.