Polymorphisms of the Vitamin D Receptor Gene and SexDifferential Associations with Lipid Profiles in Chinese Han Adults

Objective To explore the association of single nucleotide polymorphisms(SNPs)of the vitamin D receptor gene(VDR)with circulating lipids considering gender differences.Methods Of the Han Chinese adults recruited from a health examination center for inclusion in the study,the circulating lipids,25-hydroxyvitamin D(25OHD),and other parameters were measured.The VDR SNPs of Cdx2(rs11568820),Fok1(rs2228570),Apa1(rs7975232),and Taq1(rs731236)were genotyped with a qPCR test using blood DNA samples,and their associations with lipids were analyzed using logistic regression.Results In the female participants(n=236 with dyslipidemia and 888 without dyslipidemia),multiple genotype models of Fok1 indicated a positive correlation of B(not A)alleles with LDLC level(P<0.05).In the male participants(n=299 with dyslipidemia and 564 without dyslipidemia),the recessive model of Cdx2 and the additive and recessive models of Fok1 differed(P<0.05)between the HDLC-classified subgroups,respectively,and Fok1 BB and Cdx2 TT presented interactions with 25OHD in the negative associations with HDLC(P<0.05).Conclusion In the Chinese Han adults included in the study,the Fok1 B-allele of VDR was associated with higher LDLC in females,and the Fok1 B-allele and the Cdx2 T-allele of VDR were associated with lower HDLC in males.The interaction of VD and Fok1 BB or Cdx2 TT in males synergistically decreased HDLC levels.