Vitamin D receptor genetic variants among patients with end-stage renal disease

Back ground and objectives: Vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene polymorphism is reported to be associated with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). We have investigated the potential role of VDR gene polymorphisms among ESRD. Design and methods: The influence of VDR gene polymorphism in 258 ESRD patients comprising of 226 (87.5%) male and 32 (12.5%) females was investigated in this study. We compared ESRD patients with 569 healthy controls. The distribution of male and female among controls was 485 (85.3%) males and 84 (14.7%) females. This polymorphism was studied by using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The product was digested by using restriction enzymes Apa1, Taq1, Fok1, and Bsm1. Results: We observed a significant difference in the genotype frequencies of the Apa1-aa (p = 0.0001, OR = 2.1, 95% CI = 1.45-3.08), Fok1-ff (p = 0.001, OR = 3.44, 95% CI = 1.76-6.76), and Bsm1-BB (p = 0.0004, OR = 6.8, 95% CI = 2.2-21.58). At allelic level B allele of Bsm1 was significantly different among ESRD patients as compared to controls (p = 0.0001). The combined analysis revealed that ESRD patients with Fok1 and Bsm1 polymorphism were at increased risk of 4.33-fold. The haplotype analysis revealed individuals with a/t/F/b haplotype were at greater risk of 11.0-fold (95% CI = 1.38-87.69). The serum calcium levels were significantly higher (p = 0.001) in Bsm1 BB genotype. Interpretations and conclusions: Bsm1 and Fok1 gene polymorphism of VDR gene were associated with ESRD among north Indians.