Methylation capacity in children with severe cerebral palsy.

摘要: Eur J Clin Invest 2012; 42 (7): 768776 Abstract Background Methylation cycle and folate-mediated one-carbon metabolism maintenance is important for many physiological processes including neurotransmitter regulation, nerve myelination DNA synthesis. These play an indispensible role in growth development, as well cognitive function neuromuscular stability, which are key issues children with severe cerebral palsy (CP). Methods Blood samples were collected from CP (n = 24) age-matched typically developing healthy controls 24), exploratory study. The group was divided into orally (O) or enterally fed via percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (E). Concentrations of red cell folate (RCF), methylmalonic acid (MMA), mean volume (MCV), homocysteine (Hcy), cystathionine, choline, betaine urate assayed. Results Homocysteine increased both O (+/- SD) 6.28 1.81 mu M) E 6.03 1.28), vs. 5.07 0.98) P 0.02. Higher MMA found 157 54) 141 101), 88(+/- 21) 0.05. RCF higher 1422 70 nM) 843 80) 820 43) < 0.001. MCV z-scores elevated 3.1 1.8) 1.1 1.1) compared -0.2 Urate significantly reduced -0.64 1.38) -0.87 0.71), 0.18 0.62) 0.006. Conclusions Raised the presence folate, adequate B12 status low plasma suggest potential methyltetrahydrofolate trapping impaired purine Well-documented malnutrition may explain differences between groups. data support hypothesis possible dysregulation methylation capacity and/or metabolism, although more research needed to elucidate a precise mechanism.