This meta-analysis was conducted to investigate the association between MTHFR A1298C polymorphism and susceptibility to diabetic nephropathy. PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, China national knowledge infrastructure (CNKI) and China Wanfang database were searched for studies on the association between MTHFR A1298C single nucleotide polymorphism and susceptibility to diabetic nephropathy until May 2022. Data were analyzed by Stata 15.0 software. Odds ratio (OR) was used as the effect size. A total of 7 articles were identified, including 1287 cases in the diabetic nephropathy group and 1431 cases in the control group. The pooled OR of allele C at MTHFR A1298C was 1.28 (95% CI: 1.02–1.59, p=0.03) compared with allele A. The pooled OR values of dominant, and heterozygous genetic models were 1.45 (95% CI: 1.13–1.86), and 1.42 (95% CI: 1.19–1.70), respectively, and the differences were all statistically significant. There was no statistical significance in the recessive (OR=1.06, 95% CI: 0.62–1.82), and homozygous gene inheritance models (OR=1.29, 95% CI: 0.72–2.31). In conclusion, MTHFR A1298C polymorphism is associated with susceptibility to diabetic nephropathy. Allele C, genotype CC+AC, and AC at MTHFR A1298C locus can increase the risk of diabetic nephropathy.

Received: 03 June 2022

Accepted after revision: 14 September 2022

Accepted Manuscript online:
15 September 2022

Article published online:
20 October 2022

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