Abstract
AimVitamin D co-regulates the synthesis of sex hormones. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine whether the presence of certain genotypes of the vitamin D receptor gene (VDR) is associated with the serum levels of sex hormones in the elderly Polish population. Materials and methodsThe rs10735810, rs1544410, rs7975232, and rs731236 polymorphisms of VDR, the serum levels of testosterone and estradiol, as well as free estrogen index (FEI) and free androgen index (FAI) were evaluated in 360 women and 400 men aged 65–90years selected from 5695 respondents of the PolSenior survey. ResultsOnly the rs1544410 VDR polymorphism was associated with the serum levels of sex hormones. The prevalence of rs1544410 genotypes was 38% BB, 46% Bb, and 16% bb in women and 41% BB, 44% Bb, and 15% bb in men. In women the frequency of the B allele was p=0.61 and b allele q=0.39, while in men it was p=0.63 and q=0.37, respectively. We found significant differences in the serum testosterone level (p<0.0004) and FAI (p<0.0015) between the rs1544410 genotypes in women but not in men. Higher mean testosterone level and higher mean FAI were observed in women with a rare bb genotype in comparison to a common BB genotype. ConclusionWe hypothesize that in women the increase in VDR expression associated with a rare genotype of the rs1544410 polymorphism of this gene may be associated with an increase in testosterone and FAI levels.
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