The Effect of Folic Acid Administration in the Progression of Microalbuminuria
Status:
Completed
Trial end date:
2005-12-01
Target enrollment:
Participant gender:
Summary
The development of diabetic nephropathy has been linked to several genetic polymorphisms,
including those related with homocysteine metabolism such as the methylenetetrahydrofolate
reductase (MTHFR)and the cystathionine-beta-synthase genes. Such alterations are associated
with hyperhomocysteinemia, which is a known independent risk factor for the development of
endothelial dysfunction and cardiovascular disease.
In the Mexican population there is a high prevalence of the C677T MTHFR mutation. The
investigators performed this study to evaluate the prevalence of this polymorphism in type 2
diabetic patients with diabetic nephropathy compared with type 2 diabetic patients without
nephropathy, besides evaluating the relationship of hyperhomocysteinemia with endothelial
dysfunction and microalbuminuria before and after the administration of folic acid. We
proposed that the endothelial dysfunction caused by the hyperhomocysteinemia could be
reversed after the administration of folic acid.