Relationship between vitamin D receptor BsmI and FokI polymorphisms and anthropometric and biochemical parameters describing metabolic syndrome.

INTRODUCTION: It was found that vitamin D may have a direct effect on adipocyte differentiation and metabolism and might be involved in the glucose regulation of insulin secretion, as suggested from the discovery of a nuclear localization of 1,25-(OH)(2)D(3) in pancreatic islets. In recent years, several polymorphisms in the VDR gene which are able to alter the activity of VDR protein have been described. The BsmI and FokI polymorphisms were described in relation to obesity and type 2 diabetes. The aim of the study was to find whether there are associations between BsmI and FokI polymorphisms and anthropometric (BMI, WHR, BP) and biochemical parameters describing metabolic syndrome. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Studied were 176 randomly selected men aged 25-65 years (mean: 51.99 years) with a mean BMI of 28.06 kg/m(2). Two polymorphisms of the VDR gene (FokI and BsmI) were explored using the PCR-RFLP method. Serum glucose, insulin, total cholesterol, LDL, HDL, and TG were measured using commercially available kits. RESULTS: It was found that BB carriers tend to have higher BMI (29.00 +/- 3.74 versus 26.81 +/- 3.76, p = 0.024) and waist circumference (101.79 +/- 10.59 versus 96.23 +/- 10.35, p = 0.014) compared with the bb genotypes. Similarly, FF and Ff carriers had higher fasting insulin levels than the ff genotypes (12.30 +/- 10.26 versus 9.76 +/- 5.88, p = 0.001 and 9.76 +/- 5.88 vs. 6.35 +/- 2.64, p = 0.008), and lover cHDL levels in comparison to ff genotypes (52.28 +/- 10.02 versus 60.63 +/- 16.58, p = 0.015 and 53.70 +/- 12.03 versus 60.63 +/- 16.58, p = 0.032. Besides these, no significant differences were found. CONCLUSIONS: The BsmI VDR polymorphism seems to influence BMI, while the FokI VDR polymorphism appears to affect insulin sensitivity and serum cHDL level.

PPAR-gamma2 Pro12Ala polymorphism in the population of obese and non-obese men of the city of Wroclaw.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study was to examine the association of Pro12Ala PPARgamma2 polymorphism with anthropometric and biochemical parameters defining the risk for the development of metabolic syndrome in a healthy population of men. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study group consisted of 176 healthy men, aged 25-65 years (average 54.16 years). Polymorphisms of the PPAR-g gene (Pro12Ala, Ala12Ala, Pro12Pro) were explored using the PCR-RFLP method. Plasma glucose, insulin, total cholesterol, LDL, HDL and TG were measured using commercially available kits. RESULTS: The genotypic distribution of the Pro12Ala polymorphism was as follows: Pro/Ala 69.8% (n = 123), Ala/Ala 28.4% (n = 50) and Pro/Pro 1.8% (n = 3). The Pro12Ala and Ala12Ala subjects did not differ in any of the measured variables. The non-obese (BMI < 30 kg/m(2), n = 117) and obese subpopulations (BMI > 30 kg/m(2), n = 56) did not significantly differ in the distribution of the genotypes. In the nonobese subpopulation, the homozygous Ala12 carriers (n = 38, 32.4%) had higher systolic blood pressure, plasma triglycerides, insulin levels and HOMA-IR. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that despite the high frequency of the Ala allele at the PPAR-gamma2 gene in our population of Polish men, the Ala12 allele does not appear to improve insulin sensitivity or have an influence on the occurrence of obesity. It remains to be explained by larger studies if this polymorphism carries any risk of the development of metabolic abnormalities in non-obese men.

[Inhibin B--a marker of the function of male gonad]. / Inhibina B jako marker czynnosci miskich gonad.

Inhibin B is one of the growth factors mediating between Sertoli cells and germ cells. Inhibin B plays a role in the negative feedback control of FSH secretion in men. Inhibin B levels are low in the first week after birth in male newborns, then increase up to the 6th month of age and then decline progressively to reach their nadir towards 3-6 years. They become high again during puberty. Studies about influence of inhibin B on concentration and spermatogenic activity confirmed, that inhibin B can be used as a marker to estimate the Sertoli cells function. It has been proven that serum inhibin B levels in adult men correlate positively with sperm concentration. Inhibin B secretion decreases with men age what can be connected with FSH serum level increase. Inhibin B can be also used to diagnose and monitor many disturbances of spermatogenesis like different etiology azoospermia, primary testicular failure, hypogonadotropic hypogonadism, Kallman's syndrome, Klinefelter's syndrome, cryptorchidism, precocious puberty and complete or selective loss of subthalamus or pituitary function. Inhibin B is also considered as a good marker of spermatogenesis in population researches (especially together with FSH serum levels).