Nutritional Guidance in Sakado Folate Project

Background: Serum folate levels are lower in TT homozygotes of the single-nucleotide polymorphism (rs1801133) of methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) than in CC homozygotes and CT heterozygotes. Objective : To improve folate status, the genotype was notified to each subject to motivate them to eat more green-yellow vegetables. Design: Genotype, dietary folate intake, and blood biochemistry were determined and statistically analyzed for 404 subjects (109 males, mean 58.9 years; 295 females, mean 61.8 years). Their serum folate and total homocysteine (tHcy) concentrations were mea- sured before and after receiving nutritional guidance and genotype notification. Results: The frequencies of the CC, CT, and TT MTHFR genotypes were 35.4, 49.7, and 14.8%, respectively. TT homozygote participants significantly increased their intake of green-yellow vegetables (p < 0.01) and of food-derived folate (p < 0.05) following nutritional guidance. The increase in serum folate (p < 0.001) and the decrease in tHcy (p < 0.001) in TT homozygotes following nutritional guidance were more than twice that of the CC homozygote and CT heterozygote participants. An increase in broccoli, spinach and Komatsuna intake was observed following nutritional guidance, irrespective of the season. Conclusion: Genotype notification was effective in increasing the intake of green-yellow vegetables and in improving folate status in TT homozygote participants.