Background
The association between the vitamin D receptor (
VDR
) gene and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) has not been investigated in Turkish pregnant women. We aimed to investigate associations between
VDR
gene
BsmI
(rs15444410),
ApaI
(rs7975232),
FokI
(rs19735810), and
TaqI
(rs731236) single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and GDM.
Material-methods
This case-control study comprised 100 women with GDM and 135 pregnant women without GDM. The
VDR
polymorphism was evaluated using Sanger-based DNA sequencing.
Result
VDR
gene
ApaI
,
BsmI
, and
TaqI
SNPs did not differ between women with and without GDM (each,
p
> 0.05).
ApaI
,
BsmI
, and
TaqI
were not associated with GDM risk. The
VDR
gene
FokI
CT/TT genotype was associated with an increased GDM risk (CT vs. CC, OR = 1.84, 95% CI: [1.05–3.23],
p
= 0.031; TT vs. CC, OR = 3.95, 95% CI: [1.56–9.96],
p
= 0.002; CT/TT vs. CC, OR = 2.29, 95% CI: [1.35–3.89], p = 0.002; and CT/CC vs. TT, OR = 3.02, 95% CI: [1.23–7.38],
p
= 0.012). The
FokI-TT
genotype was more associated with younger age and higher glucose, HbA1c, and HOMA-IR than the CC and CT genotype.
FokI
-
T
was positively correlated with log-HOMA-IR (r = 0.326,
p
= 0.004). FokI SNPs were independently associated with GDM after adjusting for BMI and age (β = 1.63, 95% CI: [1. 2-4.2], p = 0.012). There were no associations between the
FokI
,
ApaI
,
BsmI
and
TaqI
haplotypes and GDM.
Conclusion
VDR
gene
FokI
SNPs were independently associated with having GDM in Turkish women.
VDR
gene
FokI
SNPs might contribute to insulin resistance of developing GDM.