Evaluation relationship between VDR gene and clinical and inflammatory factors in patients with RRMS.

Abstract

Introduction: Adipocyte levels including leptin and FABS-4 levels, adiponectin, obesity, and vitamin D can be related to the occurrence and exacerbation of MS disease.

Objective: This research aimed at determining the relationship between VDR gene changes and clinical and inflammatory factors in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS).

Method: This case/control study was conducted based on the ethical principles of Helsinki. RRMS disease was confirmed based on history, clinical signs, radiological signs, and neurologist's diagnosis. The research population consisted of healthy people and patients with RRMS referring to Hazrat Rasool Akram Hospital between 2021 and 2023 who met the criteria for entering the research.

Results: FokI polymorphism is associated with a substantial increase in risk, with an odds ratio of 7.28, for those with the FF genotype who have RRMS compared to healthy individuals (OR=7.28: 95% CI; 1.86, 28.41). The presence of FokI polymorphism significantly raises the likelihood of developing RRMS in persons with the FF genotype compared to healthy individuals, with an odds ratio of 28.7. RRMS patients with genotypes did not exhibit a significant increase in risk compared to controls for FokI, ApaI, TaqI, and BsmI polymorphisms.

Conclusion: None of the studied polymorphisms revealed a significant risk in obese patients with different genotypes compared to the obese people. Further research, including more cases, is needed to avoid results that could be inflated by small samples or low frequencies of minor alleles.