Background

Vitamin D is a steroid hormone. Many biological actions are triggered by vitamin D. FoKI (rs2228570) is VDR single nucleotide polymorphism. The FokI polymorphism is recognized by a start-codon alteration from cytosine to thymine, which results in three amino acids shorter protein. T2DM has been associated with the FokI VDR gene polymorphism.

Objectives: The aim of the study was to determine the relationship between the VDR gene polymorphism FokI and T2DM in Egyptians.

Method

This study was carried out on 111 subjects, 37 healthy individuals, 37 obese non-insulin-dependent diabetic patients with (BMI) > 30 kg/m2, and 37 non-obese non-insulin-dependent diabetic patients with (BMI) < 24 kg/m2. VDR FokI genotype was determined by (PCR-RFLP) and The (25(OH)D) level was measured using the ELISA method.

Results

Diabetic patients had a significantly higher prevalence of the polymorphic genotype of the VDR FokI polymorphism (ff) than the control group (OR = 4.9, 95% CI = 1.94-12.36, p = 0.0007). The FokI (f allele) allele frequency was greater in the T2DM obese patients than the control group and T2DM non-obesity patients (p < 0.0001). Diabetic patients had lower 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) levels than individuals in the control group (P< 0.001).

Conclusion

The VDR polymorphism FokI's f allele and f genotype may increase the risk of diabetes in Egyptians.