Relationship between methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) A1298C gene polymorphism and type 2 diabetic nephropathy (T2DN) risk is still unclear. This study was performed to evaluate if there is an association between the MTHFR A1298C gene polymorphism and T2DN risk using meta-analysis. The relevant reports were searched and identified from PubMed, Cochrane Library on 1 October 2013, and eligible studies were included and synthesized. Eight reports were recruited into this meta-analysis for the association of the MTHFR A1298C gene polymorphism with T2DN risk. The MTHFR A1298C C allele or CC genotype was shown to be not associated with T2DN risk (C allele: OR = 0.76, 95% CI: 0.43-1.34, p = 0.34; CC genotype: OR = 1.18, 95% CI: 0.63-2.22, p = 0.60). Interestingly, AA genotype was associated with the T2DN risk (OR = 0.68, 95% CI: 0.49-0.96, p = 0.03). In the sensitivity analysis according to the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (HWE), the results were consistent with those in non-sensitivity analysis. However, in the sensitivity analysis according to the control source from hospital, sample size of case (≥ 100), sample size of case (<100), the MTHFR A1298C gene polymorphism was not associated with T2DN risk. In conclusion, the MTHFR A1298C gene polymorphism was not associated with T2DN risk. However, additional studies are required to firmly establish a correlation between the MTHFR A1298C gene polymorphism and T2DN risk.
Keywords: A1298C; gene polymorphism; meta-analysis; methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase; type 2 diabetic nephropathy.