Allelic variants in vitamin D receptor gene are associated with adiposity measures in the central-European population

Background: There is an increasing body of evidence suggesting that vitamin D is involved in ethiopathogenesis of obesity and therefore the aim of the study was to investigate whether 5 selected SNPs in VDR (vitamin D receptor) gene are associated also with anthropometry in the obese and non-obese Central-European population. Methods: A total of 882 Central European Caucasian individuals of Czech origin were recruited (n = 882, 232 M/650 F) and weight, height, BMI, lean body mass, fat mass, body fat, waist and hip circumference, waist-hip ratio (WHR) and skinfold thickness were measured. Univariate and multivariate models were constructed in order to investigate the relationship between anthropometry and VDR polymorphisms. Results: In the univariate modeling, the CC genotype of FokI SNP was associated with reduced waist circumference (beta = -3.48; 95%CI:-7.11;0.15; p = 0.060), sum of skin fold thickness (beta = -6.53, 95% CI: -12.96;-0.11; p = 0.046) as well as total % of body fat (beta= -3.14, 95% CI: -5.18;-1.09; p = 0.003) compared to TT genotype. The AC genotype of ApaI SNP was associated with reduced waist circumference compared to AA genotype (beta = -4.37, 95% CI: -7.54;-1.20; p = 0.007). GG genotype of EcoRV SNP was associated with reduced sum of skin fold thickness compared to AA genotype (beta = -7.77, 95% CI: -14.34;-1.21; p = 0.020). In the multivariate modelling, multiple significant associations of VDR with investigated traits were observed, too. Conclusion: Our study suggests that genetic variability in the VDR region may be an important factor influencing anthropometric characteristics associated with obesity.