Vitamin D Levels and Vitamin D Receptor (VDR) Gene Polymorphisms in Inactive Hepatitis B Virus Carriers

Objective: To evaluate the vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene polymorphisms and vitamin D levels in inactive hepatitis B virus (HBV) carriers. Study Design: A cross-sectional analytical study. Place and Duration of Study: From March to September 2017 at the Izmir Katip Celebi University (IKCU) Ataturk Training and Research Hospital, Izmir, Turkey. Methodology: Eighty-six inactive hepatitis B carriers and 86 control individuals were included in the study. Individuals with diseases or under medication that could affect vitamin D levels were excluded from the study. Serum vitamin D concentration of >30 ng/mL was considered as sufficient, between 20-30 ng/mL as insufficient, <20 ng/mL as deficiency and <10 ng/mL as severe deficiency. VDR gene Bsm I, Fok I, Apa I and Taq I polymorphisms were identified by the polymerase chain reaction-fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) method. Results: When vitamin D levels were examined, 52.3% (n = 45) of the inactive HBV carriers had severe deficiency, 38.4% (n = 33) deficiency, 7% (n = 6) insufficiency; 45.3% (n = 39) of the control group had severe deficiency, 43% (n = 37) deficiency, and 7% (n = 6) insufficiency. There was no statistically significant relationship between VDR gene and Bsm I, Fok I, Apa I, Taq I polymorphisms and vitamin D levels in inactive hepatitis B carriers and control group (p>0.05). Conclusion: Vitamin D deficiency is highly prevalent both among control population as well as in chronic hepatitis patients.