Vitamin B12 Gene Polymorphisms and Chronic Diseases

Abstract

Vitamin B12 or cobalamin is an essential nutrient with important roles in DNA synthesis, repair and methylation. It is also required in the one carbon metabolism pathway to reduce plasma homocysteine concentrations. Several epidemiological studies have indicated that genes and metabolites of the B vitamin-mediated one-carbon metabolic pathway are associated with chronic diseases. This short review describes polymorphisms in the MTHFR, FUT2 and TCN2 genes which have been implicated in cardiovascular diseases and neural tube defects amongst others.

Vegetarian Diet and Cardiometabolic Risk among Asian Indians in the United States

“…Rapid socioeconomic developments, a changing food system [ 16 ], and migration-related transitions in nutrition, dietary practices, and lifestyles [ 17 ] are cited as determinants for these changes. In addition, genetic polymorphisms in AIs [ 18 ] and the influence of early maternal/fetal nutrition on body fat [ 19 ] are also noted as increasing this chronic disease risk. The well-characterized “South Asian phenotype” [ 20 ] equated with metabolic syndrome points to lower adiponectin, higher nonesterified fatty acids and C-reactive protein levels, increased insulin resistance, greater abdominal obesity at a lower body weight, and higher lipoprotein “a” levels that are noted to further accentuate these dramatic shifts in the health status of AIs.…”