Lower Vitamin D Levels, but Not VDR Polymorphisms, Influence Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in Brazilian Population Independently of Obesity.

Background and Objectives: Vitamin D levels have been associated with a diversity of diseases, including obesity. Vitamin D presents a pleiotropic action, and can regulate insulin secretion and inflammatory responses. Vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene polymorphisms are involved in the gene expression regulation and have been associated with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). This study aimed to evaluate the association between the polymorphisms ApaI (rs7975232), BsmI (rs1544410), FokI (rs10735810), and TaqI (rs731236) in the VDR gene in people diagnosed with T2DM, and plasma 25-hydroxivitamin D levels [25(OH)D]. Materials and Methods: A total of 101 T2DM patients and 62 gender, age, and body mass index (BMI) matched non-diabetic controls were included in this study. Molecular analyzes were performed by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). The plasma 25(OH)D levels were measured by high performance liquid chromatography. Results: The plasma 25(OH)D levels were lower in T2DM patients (17.2 (16.6) ng/mL) when compared with the control subjects (30.8 (16.2) ng/mL, p < 0.0001), independently of obesity status. We found no difference between genotypic and allelic frequencies of the VDR polymorphisms when comparing the T2DM group and control group (p > 0.05 for all), and did not show any association with plasma 25(OH)D levels. Conclusions: These results suggest that T2DM is associated with lower plasma 25(OH)D levels, which are not related to BMI and VDR gene polymorphisms.

Polymorphisms in vitamin D receptor gene, but not vitamin D levels, are associated with polycystic ovary syndrome in Brazilian women.

This study aimed to investigate the association between vitamin D (VitD) levels, polymorphisms in VDR gene (ApaI, BsmI, FokI, and TaqI) and the polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) in a group of Brazilian women. A total of 100 patients with PCOS and 100 control women were included. The quantification of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) was performed in high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Polymorphisms on VDR gene were performed by PCR-RFLP. The BsmI AG genotype was more frequent in PCOS group, while the GG genotype was more frequent in the control group (p = .007). The frequency of the Taql CC genotype was higher in PCOS group, while the CT genotype was the most frequent in the control group (p = .021). Mean serum VitD levels were similar between the groups. However, there was a negative correlation between VitD levels and Ferriman-Gallwey score (p = .031, r = -.260) in the PCOS group. The TaqI and BsmI polymorphisms were associated with PCOS. Moreover, VitD levels are associated with the clinical hyperandrogenism. The data suggest the role of VitD in PCOS development and its complications.

Circulating microparticles levels are increased in patients with diabetic kidney disease: A case-control research.

BACKGROUND: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is associated with chronic lowgrade inflammation. Microparticles (MPs) are extracellular microvesicles released during apoptosis and cellular activation. The MP's pro-coagulant and pro-inflammatory activities are involved in endothelial dysfunction observed in T2DM patients. This study aimed to evaluate the circulating MPs profile in T2DM patients with diabetic kidney disease (DKD) and correlate it with clinical and laboratorial parameters. METHODS: MPs derived from platelets (PMPs), leukocytes (LMPs), endothelial cells (EMPs), and expressing tissue factor (TFMPs) were measured by flow cytometry, in plasma of 39 DKD patients and 30 non-diabetic controls. RESULTS: We observed higher PMPs, LMPs, EMPs, and TFMPs (all p<0.0001) levels in case group as compared to controls. For patients with DKD, circulating MPs levels were influenced by gender, but not by obesity status nor by T2DM onset. Fasting glucose and 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels showed correlation with circulating MPs levels in both groups. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that type 2 diabetes mellitus patients with DKD presented higher circulating MPs levels - PMPs, LMPs, EMPs, and TFMPs - which correlated with metabolic alterations.