Vitamin D receptor gene variations and their association with cardiometabolic risk and microvascular complications in metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease: evidence from a Turkish cohort.

INTRODUCTION

Vitamin D receptor (VDR) variations have attracted attention because of their potential impact on metabolic regulation and liver health. This study aimed to investigate the association between VDR polymorphisms and clinical parameters as well as the risk of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD; formerly nonalcoholic fatty liver disease) in a Turkish population.

METHODS

The study included 390 participants: 200 patients with MASLD and 190 healthy control individuals. VDR rs1544410, rs2228570, and rs731236 variations were genotyped using the polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism method.

RESULTS

There was no statistically significant difference in the overall genotype distribution of VDR variants between patients and control individuals. The rs1544410 AA and AG genotypes were associated with higher triglyceride levels. The rs2228570 CT genotype was associated with increased hypertriglyceridemia and hypertension, whereas the CC genotype was more frequent in patients with microvascular complications. The rs731236 CC and CT genotypes were also associated with a higher risk of hypertriglyceridemia.

DISCUSSION: Our study revealed that the VDR rs1544410, VDR rs2228570, and VDR rs731236 variations substantially modulate the risk of hypertriglyceridemia, hypertension, and microvascular complications in MASLD.