Abstract
Background Many epidemiological studies have shown that vitamin D deficiency is associated with various types of human cancers. The biological action of vitamin D and its metabolites is mediated by the transcription factor vitamin D receptor (VDR). The VDR gene is highly expressed in the colon and is involved in many biological functions. The aim of the current study was to assess the relationship between serum vitamin D metabolite and calcium levels with VDR polymorphisms in normal and colorectal cancer (CRC) patients. Methods Fifty Saudi CRC patients and fifty controls were enrolled in the study. The levels of total vitamin D, 25(OH)D3, and calcium were measured in serum. ResultsThe homozygous genotype (aa) of the ApaI VDR polymorphism (rs7975232) was found to correlate with total serum vitamin D levels of CRC patients, while the heterozygous (Tt) TaqI VDR polymorphism (rs731236) was associated with serum calcium levels. In contrast, the BsmI and FokI VDR polymorphisms (rs1544410 and rs2228570, resp.) did not affect the serum levels of total vitamin D, 25-hydroxyvitamin D3, and calcium. Conclusion Appropriate vitamin D levels were shown to be important in preventing the onset of CRC.
Highlights
Vitamin D is an effective regulator of several physiologic processes, such as calcium (Ca) homeostasis and innate and adaptive immunity [1, 2]
The results of studies on vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene polymorphisms and their relation to colorectal cancer (CRC) development and prognosis are contradictory [25,26,27,28]. These correlations mostly result from the interaction between VDR polymorphisms and other factors, such as Ca and vitamin D intake, plasma levels of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 [1,25(OH)2D3], UV radiation exposure, obesity, and energy intake [29,30,31,32].The aim of this study was to analyze the relationship between serum total vitamin D, 25(OH)D3, and Ca levels and VDR polymorphisms in the manifestation of CRC
The genotype distribution of the four VDR gene polymorphisms in CRC patients and healthy controls were compared with serum total vitamin D, 25(OH)D3, and Ca levels
Summary
Vitamin D is an effective regulator of several physiologic processes, such as calcium (Ca) homeostasis and innate and adaptive immunity [1, 2]. The effects of vitamin D are mediated by the vitamin D receptor (VDR) [3, 4]. The molecular mechanism by which the variants of the VDR gene exert these effects is unclear [1, 13]. This applies to the role of VDR polymorphisms in colorectal cancer (CRC). The aim of the current study was to assess the relationship between serum vitamin D metabolite and calcium levels with VDR polymorphisms in normal and colorectal cancer (CRC) patients. The BsmI and FokI VDR polymorphisms (rs1544410 and rs2228570, resp.) did not affect the serum levels of total vitamin D, 25-hydroxyvitamin D3, and calcium. Appropriate vitamin D levels were shown to be important in preventing the onset of CRC
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