Assocıatıons Between Vıtamın D Receptor Gene Polymorphısms and Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.

Background: Vitamin D deficiency is associated with Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS), and Vitamin D supplementation may improve symptoms and electrophysiological findings in CTS patients. The biological effects of vitamin D may be modified by various genetic factors, including single nucleotide polymorphisms in the vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene.

Aim: With this study, we aimed to show whether Taq I and Fok I polymorphisms of the VDR gene cause an increase in the occurrence and severity of carpal tunnel syndrome.

Methods: 100 CTS patients and 100 healthy controls were included in this study. The severity of CTS was determined by electromyography and the patients were divided into 3 groups: mild, moderate and severe CTS. The Fok I and Taq I genotypes of the participants were determined from the peripheral blood samples taken from all participants. Genotypes and allele frequencies were compared between patient and control groups.

Results: VDR Fok I genotype distribution and allele frequency showed a significant relationship with the risk of developing CTS and its severity. Taq I, on the other hand, was not associated with the risk of developing CTS or its severity.

Conclusion: VDR Fok I polymorphism increases the risk of developing CTS and the risk of severe CTS in the Turkish population. Further studies on this subject are needed to further understand the relationship between CTS and VDR polymorphisms and explain its mechanism.