The relations of vitamin D receptor gene polymorphisms with risk of obesity, metabolic syndrome, hepatostetosis in Turkish children

Purpose: The aim of study was to determine the relation of vitamin D receptor gene (VDR) polymorphisms of TaqI (rs731236), ApaI (rs7975232), BsmI (rs1544410), FokI (rs10735810) with the risk of obesity, metabolic syndrome and hepatosteatosis in children.Materials and methods: 130 obese and 130 healthy children of age range between 10-16 years included in this study. Anthropometric measurements, biochemical evaluations and abdominal USG of all children were done. Obese and healty children were analyzed for the most common polymorphisms of the VDR gene by restriction fragment length polymorphism’s technique. The diagnosis of metabolic syndrome was made using the International Diabetes Federation criteria.Results: Genotypic distribution of BsmI, FokI, and TaqI polymorphism were found statistically different between obese patients and control group, but genotypic distribution of all studied polymorphisms were not found statistically different in obese patients with metabolic syndrome or hepatosteotosis. Conclusion: BsmI polymorphism (rs1544410) was found to have a significant positive effect on the development of obesity, metabolic syndrome and hepatosteatosis. Children who carry risk factors for childhood obesity could be screened before the development of obesity and associated metabolic complications using the BsmI polymorphism of the VDR gene.