RESUMO
BACKGROUND/AIM: Vitamin D deficiency accelerates the onset of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Polymorphisms in the vitamin D receptor (VDR) have been linked to coronary artery disease (CAD). This study aimed to evaluate the association of vitamin D deficiency and VDR polymorphism with CAD in T2DM. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 150 adult male and female subjects, aged from 40 to 60 years, were divided into three groups, each with 50 subjects; control group, T2DM, and T2DM with CAD. Fasting blood glucose (FBG), total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), HDL-C, LDL-C, glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), and 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-OH D) were assessed. VDR genotypes (BsmI, Taq1 and FOK1) were investigated by polymerase chain reaction fragment length polymorphism. RESULTS: There was a significant negative correlation between serum 25-OH D and FBG, TC, TG, and LDL-C levels, and a positive correlation with HDL-C levels in all diabetic patient groups. The risk of CAD was markedly higher in the group of T2DM with CAD in comparison to the control (p<0.0001) and the T2DM group. Regarding Taq1, there was also a significantly higher risk of CAD in Tt+tt genotypes and t allele in the T2DM with CAD group compared to control (p<0.001, 0.031 respectively). In addition, 25-OH D concentrations and the prevalence of VDR polymorphisms (BsmI, Taq1) were correlated with the risk of CAD. CONCLUSION: Deficiency of vitamin D and the prevalence of VDR polymorphisms (BsmI, Taq1) can serve as important markers for CAD.