Endocrine Abstracts

The aim of this study was to determine whether polymorphisms (TaqI, ApaI, BsmI, and FokI) of the vitamin D receptor (VDR) show a correlation with the serum level of the testosterone in the aging men population.

A group of 224 men aged 65–90 years, randomly selected from the group of 5695 persons included in the PolSenior project was studied. We established genotype prevalence of the VDR gene polymorphisms (TaqI, rs10735810; ApaI, rs1544410; BsmI, rs7975232; FokI, and rs731236) and testosterone serum concentration levels. Polymorphisms were divided into two models: protective (Taq, TT genotype; Apa, aa genotype; Bsm, genotype BB; and Fok, genotype FF) and risk (Taq, tt genotype; Apa, AA genotype; Bsm, genotype bb; and Fok, genotype ff). The cumulative effect of these two models on the concentration of testosterone were calculated.

Risk model of the polymorphism Fok shows significantly higher serum levels of the testosterone than the protective model (P=0.0436).

Although the carriers of the protective model of Apa, Taq and Bsm polymorphisms have a higher serum testosterone level, it doesn’t reach statistical significance (P=0.5568, P=0.6327, and P=0.0653).

Analysis of the combined effect of all models of polymorphisms indicates that the protective model is associated with higher levels of testosterone, but it doesn’t reach statistical significance (P=0.7908).

Project requires further research with a larger group of patients.