Vitamin D receptor gene polymorphisms and 25(OH) vitamin D: Lack of association to glycemic control and metabolic parameters in type 2 diabetic Egyptian patients.

Background: Vitamin D deficiency and vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene polymorphisms have been linked to type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and its metabolic parameters, however there are conflicting results therefore we aimed to evaluate VDR gene polymorphisms (Fok1, Bsm1 and Taq1) and vitamin D status in Egyptian patients with T2DM and to detect the associations of these polymorphisms to their metabolic parameters and glycemic control.

Methods: 50 patients with T2DM and 50 healthy age matched control subjects were enrolled. FBG, 2 h -PPG, fasting lipids, Hb A1c, calcium, phosphorus, urea, creatinine, ALT, AST were measured. BMI has calculated. Serum 25 hydroxy vitamin D [25(OH)D] has measured by ELISA. VDR gene polymorphisms detection has done by polymerase chain reaction through restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) technique.

Results: Our study has shown lower mean levels of 25(OH)D in patients with T2DM (28.54 ± 10.02) in comparison with control subjects (44.65 ± 7.19),  < 0.001. Vitamin D insufficiency was more prevalent in T2DM 58% than in healthy control subjects 4%. There were statistically significant differences between patients with type 2 diabetes and controls regarding the distribution of FokI genotypes and alleles ( = 0.005) and non significant difference regarding Bsm1 and Taq1. Neither VDR gene polymorphisms nor 25(OH)D showed significant association with glycemic control, fasting lipids and BMI in patients with T2DM.

Conclusions: Vitamin D deficiency is prevalent in Egyptian patients with T2DM. Associations were found only between VDR FokI gene polymorphism and susceptibility to Egyptian patients with T2DM. Non significant differences in VDR gene polymorphisms distribution has found regarding glycemic control and metabolic parameters.