title: The role of vitamin D levels and vitamin D receptor polymorphism on Parkinson's disease in the Faroe Islands.
abstract: The role of vitamin D in Parkinson's disease (PD) has been proposed and both low serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels (25(OH)D) and vitamin D receptor polymorphisms (VDR) have been linked to PD. The aim of this study is to investigate the associations among 25(OH)D and three VDR polymorphisms and PD in the Faroese population where the prevalence of PD is high. We conducted a case-control study where 121 cases were studied for 25(OH)D levels and VDR polymorphisms against 235 randomly selected controls, matched by gender and age. No significant difference was observed in 25(OH)D levels between PD cases and controls (P=0.49), although cases had slightly lower values than controls. As well, no differences were found in genotype frequencies between cases and controls in the VDR polymorphisms studied (ApaI, BsmI, TaqI) (P=0.70, P=0.56 and P=0.54, respectively). However, we found that VDR ApaI/AC genotype was significantly associated with 25(OH)D levels (P=0.01). Although our results indicate no association between PD and vitamin D polymorphisms and/or 25(OH)D levels, the study cannot exclude a weak association. However, the known doubling in PD prevalence in the Faroe Islands cannot be explained by the polymorphisms examined in the VDR gene or the 25(OH)D levels and has to be explored further.
authors.affiliation: Department of Occupational Medicine and Public Health, The Faroese Hospital System, Tórshavn, Faroe Islands. Electronic address: maria@health.fo.
authors.forename: Maria Skaalum
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Petersen
authors.affiliation: Department of Occupational Medicine and Public Health, The Faroese Hospital System, Tórshavn, Faroe Islands.
authors.forename: Sára
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bech
authors.affiliation: Food and Veterinary Authority, National Reference Laboratory for Fish Diseases, Tórshavn, Faroe Islands.
authors.forename: Debes Hammershaimb
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Christiansen
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Lillebaelts Hospital, Vejle, Denmark.
authors.forename: Anna Vibeke
authors.initials: AV
authors.lastname: Schmedes
authors.affiliation: Department of Occupational Medicine and Public Health, The Faroese Hospital System, Tórshavn, Faroe Islands.
authors.forename: Jónrit
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Halling
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003718:Denmark; D005260:Female; D056726:Genetic Association Studies; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D062312:Islands; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000235:genetics*; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D018167:Receptors, Calcitriol / Q000235:genetics*; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D018167:Receptors, Calcitriol; D014807:Vitamin D; C104450:25-hydroxyvitamin D
keywords: Faroe Islands; Parkinson's disease; Polymorphism; Vitamin D receptor