Evidence map›Paper›PMID 33315905›Full record

ArticlePloS one2020

A prospective study to explore the relationship between MTHFR C677T genotype, physiological folate levels, and postpartum psychopathology in at-risk women.

Emily Morris, Catriona Hippman, Arianne Albert, Caitlin Slomp, Angela Inglis, Prescilla Carrion, Rolan Batallones, Heather Andrighetti, Colin Ross, Roger Dyer and 2 more

Open access · goldAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in PloS one, 2020. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
5citing papers in PubMed, 2 pooled it
2.5field-weighted citation impact, top 9% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

5 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 19 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Pooled it
  3. Folate intake,The British journal of nutrition · 2025
    Article
  4. Review
  5. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

12 authors at 3 institutions in 1 country.

Emily MorrisDepartment of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
Catriona HippmanDepartment of Psychiatry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
Arianne AlbertWomen's Health Research Institute, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
Caitlin SlompDepartment of Psychiatry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
Angela InglisDepartment of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
Prescilla CarrionDepartment of Psychiatry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
Rolan BatallonesDepartment of Psychiatry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
Heather AndrighettiDepartment of Psychiatry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
Colin RossFaculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
Roger DyerAnalytical Core for Metabolomics & Nutrition (ACMaN), BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, BC, Canada.ORCID 0000-0003-2009-1563
William HonerDepartment of Psychiatry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
Jehannine AustinDepartment of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.ORCID 0000-0003-0338-7055
University of British Columbia · CABC Children's Hospital · CAWomen's Health Research Institute · CA

Funding

CIHR MOP 82750
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThe etiology of postpartum psychopathologies are not well understood, but folate metabolism pathways are of potential interest. Demands for folate increase dramatically during pregnancy, low folate level has been associated with psychiatric disorders, and supplementation may improve symptomatology. The MTHFR C677T variant influences folate metabolism and has been implicated in depression during pregnancy.

objectiveTo conduct a prospective longitudinal study to explore the relationship between MTHFR C677T genotype, folate levels, and postpartum psychopathology in at-risk women. HYPOTHESIS: In the first three months postpartum, folate will moderate a relationship between MTHFR genotype and depression, with TT homozygous women having more symptoms than CC homozygous women.

methodsWe recruited 365 pregnant women with a history of mood or psychotic disorder, and at 3 postpartum timepoints, administered the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS); Clinician-Administered Rating Scale for Mania (CARS-M) and the Positive and Negative Symptom Scale (PANSS) and drew blood for genotype/folate level analysis. We used robust linear regression to investigate interactions between genotype and folate level on the highest EPDS and CARS-M scores, and logistic regression to explore interactions with PANSS psychosis scores above/below cut-off.

resultsThere was no significant interaction effect between MTHFR genotype and folate level on highest EPDS (p = 0.36), but there was a significant interaction between genotype, folate level and log(CARS-M) (p = 0.02); post-hoc analyses revealed differences in the effect of folate level between CC/CT, and TT genotypes, with folate level in CC and CT having an inverse relationship with symptoms of mania, while there was no relationship in participants with TT genotype. There was no significant interaction between MTHFR genotype and folate level on the likelihood of meeting positive symptom criteria for psychosis on the PANSS (p = 0.86). DISCUSSION: These data suggest that perhaps there is a relationship between MTHFR C677T, folate level and some symptoms of postpartum psychopathology.

Indexed as

AdultAllelesDepression, PostpartumFemaleFolic AcidGenetic Predisposition to DiseaseGenome-Wide Association StudyGenotypeHumansLongitudinal StudiesManiaMethylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (NADPH2)Middle AgedPostpartum PeriodPregnancyProspective StudiesFolic AcidMethylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (NADPH2)MTHFR protein, human

Identifiers

PMID33315905
PMCPMC7735580
OpenAlexW3111719622

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.