Exploring the Influence of Fok1/Apa1 Polymorphic Variants on Adolescent Mental Health and Response to Vitamin D Supplementation in Embryonic Hippocampal Cell Lines

Abstract

Several single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the vitamin D receptor (VDR) have been observed in association with susceptibility to various pathologies, including autism, major depression, age-related changes in cognitive functioning, and Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases. This study aimed to establish the association between Fok1/Apa1 polymorphic variants and anxious/depressive symptoms in nonclinical adolescents from central Italy, with the goal of identifying the risk of developing both symptoms. We found no significant difference in genotype distribution or dominant/recessive models of Fok1/Apa1 VDR polymorphic variants between subjects with anxious/depressive symptoms and controls. HN9.10e cell lines carrying the AA genotype for Fok1 and the CC genotype for Apa1 responded better to treatment with vitamin D3 than cell lines carrying the AG genotype for Fok1 and CA genotype for Apa1. Cell lines carrying the GG genotype for Fok1 and the AA genotype for Apa1 did not respond at all, suggesting avenues for future studies in both the general population and individuals with mental and/or neuropsychiatric disorders. These studies suggest that the level of response to vitamin D3 administered to prevent and/or treat mental or neurological disorders could depend on the polymorphic variants of the vitamin D receptor.