Riboflavin lowers blood pressure in cardiovascular disease patients homozygous for the 677C-->T polymorphism in MTHFR

Horigan G

Published in Journal of Hypertension

Methodology

Randomised, placebo-controlled intervention stratified by MTHFR 677C->T genotype; riboflavin 1.6 mg/day or placebo for 16 weeks; blood pressure as the main outcome.

Key Findings

From a cohort of 404 premature cardiovascular disease patients, 197 were selected by MTHFR 677C->T genotype and 181 completed 16 weeks of riboflavin 1.6 mg/day or placebo, randomised within genotype group. Among those on antihypertensive drugs (82%), target blood pressure under 140/90 mmHg had been reached in only 37% of TT patients versus 59% of CT and 64% of CC (p < 0.001). Riboflavin lowered blood pressure specifically in the TT genotype, from 144/87 to 131/80 mmHg (p < 0.05 for both systolic and diastolic), with no response in the CT or CC groups.

Conclusions

Riboflavin lowered blood pressure specifically in patients with the MTHFR 677 TT genotype.

Limitations

Genotype subgroups were small (about 60 TT patients) and the effect is a subgroup finding requiring independent confirmation; participants were premature cardiovascular disease patients, mostly already on antihypertensives.