A comprehensive insight into the potential roles of VDR gene polymorphism in obesity: a systematic review

Abstract

Vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene polymorphisms are believed to be involved in the obesity pathogenesis. This study summarises the results of research concerning the association between VDR polymorphisms and obesity. For this survey, the records of common databases were searched until November 2019. Four loci of the VDR gene in four case-controlled and 22 cross-sectional studies were assessed and evaluated. In the case-control studies, no significant association was observed between ApaI and FokI polymorphism with obesity risk. TaqI “T” allele in two studies was related to a higher risk of obesity. One investigation found no relationship between BsmI and obesity, while another article suggested that the “b” allele is more frequently found in obese subjects. The results of cross-sectional studies did not lead to consistent findings. Although the previous studies failed to arrive at conclusive findings, the effects of VDR polymorphism on obesity development cannot be ignored.

Keywords:

• Vitamin D receptor
• polymorphism
• obesity
• anthropometry
• systematic review

Acknowledgements

We are very grateful to Omid Nikpayam for her invaluable comments on search strategies. We also thank Dr. Mohammad Asghari-Jafarabadi for his helpful recommendations.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).