Vitamin D Receptor Gene Polymorphisms with Acute Lower Respiratory Infections

Acute Lower Respiratory Infections (ALRI) is the leading cause of death in children worldwide, particularly in underdeveloped nations where the incidence is over 10 times greater in children who have an age younger than 5 years old. Multiple in vitro studies have demonstrated the function of vitamin D in facilitating and controlling immune response by interacting with the vitamin D receptor (VDR). The objective of this study was to determine the correlation between vitamin D receptor polymorphism and ALRI.

Methods: The study examined three vitamin D receptor (VDR) polymorphisms (FokI, TaqI, ApaI) using the PCR-RFLP technique in 78 hospital cases of acute lower respiratory infections (ALRI). These patients were then compared to 75 age and sex matched apparently healthy children below the age of five. Additionally, serum levels of vitamin D were assessed.

Results: The presence of the TaqI tt genotype and the independent t allele were demonstrated to provide a substantial protection against ALRI. The genotypes of FokI and ApaI did not show any significant correlation with the risk of Acute Lower Respiratory Infection (ALRI). Children with ALRI exhibited very low levels of vitamin D. The study did not find any statistically significant variation in vitamin D levels across the three genotypes in FokI, TaqI, and ApaI polymorphisms.