The Association of Vitamin D Receptor Polymorphisms with Multiple Sclerosis in a Case-Control Study from Kuwait

• Published in: PloS one Vol. 10; no. 11; p. e0142265
• Main Authors: Al-Temaimi, Rabeah Abbas, Al-Enezi, Anwar, Al-Serri, Ahmad, Alroughani, Raed, Al-Roughani, Raed, Al-Mulla, Fahd
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Public Library of Science 05.11.2015; Public Library of Science (PLoS)
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Age; Case-Control Studies; Demographics; Diabetes; Dietary supplements; Disease; Enzymes; Ethnicity; Female; Gene expression; Gene Frequency - genetics; Genetic Predisposition to Disease - genetics; Genetics; Genotype; Health risks; Humans; Kuwait; Male; Mathematical analysis; Medicine; Metabolism; Metabolites; Middle Aged; Multiple sclerosis; Multiple Sclerosis - genetics; Pathology; Patients; Pigmentation; Plasma; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide - genetics; Receptors, Calcitriol - genetics; Risk; Skin; Skin pigmentation; Ultraviolet radiation; Vitamin D; Vitamin D - genetics; Vitamin D Deficiency - genetics; Vitamin D receptors; Vitamin deficiency; Young Adult; Kuwait
• ISSN: 1932-6203; 1932-6203
• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0142265

Vitamin D deficiency is associated with several diseases including multiple sclerosis (MS). Several factors influence vitamin D levels and its optimal multi-function maintenance. Our objective was to assess quantifiable variables influencing vitamin D level and metabolism in MS patients from Kuwait. In a case-control study involving 50 MS patients, and 50 healthy control individuals for which plasma vitamin D levels, supplement use, vitamin D receptor (VDR) variants, and skin pigmentation indices were ascertained; we found overall vitamin D levels to be deficient in both groups, and supplement use to be common practice. VDR variants TaqI and BsmI associated with MS risk, and ApaI associated with low disease progression. VDR variant FokI associated with higher vitamin D levels in both groups. We conclude that several quantifiable variables related to vitamin D associate with MS suggesting a possible clinical immuno-modulatory application of vitamin D for MS patients in Kuwait.