Investigation of Vitamin D Receptor Gene Polymorphisms and Metabolic Profiles in Obese Children

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the relationship between obesity, accompanying metabolic disorders, and vitamin D receptor (VDR) polymorphisms in children aged 5–18 years.Materials and Methods: The study included 98 children, comprising 48 children diagnosed with obesity according to WHO criteria and 50 age- and gender-matched healthy controls. In the patient group, serum lipids, blood glucose and insulin levels, HbA1c, and VDR polymorphisms (BsmI, ApaI, TaqI, FokI, and Cdx-2) were analyzed.Results: No significant differences were observed in VDR polymorphisms (BsmI, ApaI, TaqI, FokI, and Cdx-2) between the obese and control groups (p > 0.05). In addition, no significant association was found between metabolic abnormalities (i.e., impaired fasting glucose, impaired glucose tolerance, diabetes, insulin resistance, and dyslipidemia) and VDR polymorphisms (p > 0.05). Correlation analysis revealed a negative correlation between hypercholesterolemia and Cdx-2 polymorphism (r = −0.31, p = 0.03) and a weak negative correlation between low HDL cholesterol levels and ApaI polymorphism (r = −0.30, p = 0.04).Conclusion: VDR polymorphisms were not significantly associated with childhood obesity or major obesity-related metabolic disorders. However, weak correlations between Cdx-2 and hypercholesterolemia and between ApaI and HDL cholesterol levels suggest a possible modulatory role in lipid metabolism that warrants further investigation.