Abstract
Objective: This study investigated the association of the TaqI (rs731236 T>C) polymorphism in the VDR gene with dental caries.Methods: A comprehensive literature search was performed in PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, SinoMed (the Chinese biomedical literature service system), and the Wiley Online Library. Overall comparisons and subgroup analyses based on ethnicity and the presence of dental caries in dentition were performed. Odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated to assess associations between gene polymorphisms and the risk of dental caries.Results: Seven articles were included in this meta-analysis. The pooled results revealed a significant association of the TaqI (rs731236 T>C) polymorphism with dental caries in the allele contrast model (C vs. T: OR = 1.24, 95% CI = 1.07–1.44, I2 = 42%, p = 0.005) and in the recessive genetic model (CC vs. TT/CT: OR = 1.38, 95% CI = 1.03–1.84, I2 = 0%, p = 0.03). A stratified analysis based on ethnicity revealed a significant association between the TaqI (rs731236 T>C) polymorphism and the risk of dental caries in Asians (C vs. T: OR = 1.28, 95% CI = 1.06–1.54, I2 = 60%, p = 0.009). Subgroup analysis based on the presence of dental caries in dentition found a significant association of the TaqI (rs731236 T>C) polymorphism with permanent tooth caries in the allele contrast model (C vs. T: OR = 1.40, 95% CI = 1.11–1.77, I2 = 76%, p = 0.005) and the recessive genetic model (CC vs. TT/CT: OR = 1.44, 95% CI = 1.03–2.00, I2 = 0%, p = 0.03).Conclusion: The results of this meta-analysis suggest that the C allele and CC genotype of the TaqI (rs731236 T>C) polymorphism in the VDR gene are associated with an increased risk of dental caries.
Highlights
The World Health Organization (WHO) lists dental caries as the third leading major disease that seriously affects human health
Increasing evidence indicates that hereditary factors may be linked to caries susceptibility (Piekoszewska-Zietek et al, 2017), and >40% of caries risk is due to genetic factors (Bretz et al, 2005)
No significant association of TaqI polymorphism with dental caries was found in the other three genetic models
Summary
The World Health Organization (WHO) lists dental caries as the third leading major disease that seriously affects human health (after cancer and cardiovascular disease). According to the WHO, the decayed-missing-filled index decreased worldwide with the development of stomatology, but dental caries still affect the physical attributes and quality of life of 60–90% of school-aged children and most adults (Petersen, 2003). Untreated dental caries may lead to a series of problems, such as pain, malocclusion, tooth loss, and abscesses, which affect growth and development in children (Sheiham, 2006; Opal et al, 2015; Zhang et al, 2020). Some dental caries susceptibility genes were studied. These genes are related to amelogenesis, mineralization, immune reaction, taste, and saliva (Vieira et al, 2014)
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