Distribution of 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (C667T) polymorphism and its association with red blood cell 5-methyltetrahydrofolate in the healthy Iranians

Conclusions: Results from this study suggest that methyltetrahydrofoate reductase C667T genotypes are strongly and independently associated with low red blood cell 5-methylterahydrofolate that has been reported to be a more reliable and long-term marker for body's folate status among Iranians. These results may suggest that substantial minority of people in general populations may have increased folate needs and this may place doubts on the validity of assuming “normality” for nutrient requirements in any general population.