Evaluation of vitamin D receptor genetic polymorphisms with dental caries and developmental defects of enamel in Brazilian children

Objectives: to investigate the association between dental caries, developmental defects of enamel (DDE) and genetic polymorphisms in vitamin D receptor (VDR) in Brazilian children. Methods: Children examination to access the DMFT index was performed according to the World Health Organization's recommendations and the children were classified according their caries experience into 'No caries experience' (DMFT = 0), and 'Caries experience' (DMFT <= 1), and 'Low caries experience' (DMFT <= 3) or 'High caries experience' (DMFT >= 4) groups. DDE were diagnosed using the modified DDE index based on the Federation Dentaire Internationale (FDI) recommendation. Children were included in the DDE group when presented at least one tooth with a DDE. Genomic DNA was extracted and genetic polymorphisms (rs2228570 and rs739837) were genotyped by TaqMan chemistry and end-point analysis. Chi-square or Fisher exact tests were used to compare genotype and allele distribution among the groups. Epi Info 7 was used to analyze data. The established alpha of this study was 5%. Results: Among 157 included children, 19 children (12.1%) were caries free and were in the 'No caries experience' group, while 138 children (87.9%) were in the 'Caries experience' group. Sixty-seven children (42.7%) were in the 'Low caries experience' group while 90 children (57.3%) were in the 'High caries experience' group. Five children presented primary dentition, 29 presented mixed dentition and 123 presented permanent dentition.Forty-one (26.1%) children presented at least one tooth with DDE. Caries experience was not associated with DDE (p = 0.71). The polymorphisms rs2228570 and rs739837 were not associated with dental caries, neither DDE (p > 0.05). Allele distributions were also not associated with dental caries, neither DDE (p > 0.05). Conclusions: The genetic polymorphisms rs2228570 and rs739837 were not associated with dental caries and developmental defects of enamel in Brazilian children. (c) 2020 Japanese Society of Pediatric Dentistry. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.