title: Interrelation between genotypes of the vitamin D receptor gene and serum sex hormone concentrations in the Polish elderly population: the PolSenior study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Vitamin D co-regulates the synthesis of sex hormones. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine whether the presence of certain genotypes of the vitamin D receptor gene (VDR) is associated with the serum levels of sex hormones in the elderly Polish population.
  
  
  METHODS
  The rs10735810, rs1544410, rs7975232, and rs731236 polymorphisms of VDR, the serum levels of testosterone and estradiol, as well as free estrogen index (FEI) and free androgen index (FAI) were evaluated in 360 women and 400 men aged 65-90years selected from 5695 respondents of the PolSenior survey.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Only the rs1544410 VDR polymorphism was associated with the serum levels of sex hormones. The prevalence of rs1544410 genotypes was 38% BB, 46% Bb, and 16% bb in women and 41% BB, 44% Bb, and 15% bb in men. In women the frequency of the B allele was p=0.61 and b allele q=0.39, while in men it was p=0.63 and q=0.37, respectively. We found significant differences in the serum testosterone level (p<0.0004) and FAI (p<0.0015) between the rs1544410 genotypes in women but not in men. Higher mean testosterone level and higher mean FAI were observed in women with a rare bb genotype in comparison to a common BB genotype.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We hypothesize that in women the increase in VDR expression associated with a rare genotype of the rs1544410 polymorphism of this gene may be associated with an increase in testosterone and FAI levels.
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology and Diabetology, Wroclaw Medical University, Wroclaw, Poland. Electronic address: Lukasz.laczmanski@umed.wroc.pl.
authors.forename: Lukasz
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Laczmanski
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology and Diabetology, Wroclaw Medical University, Wroclaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Andrzej
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Milewicz
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Epigenetics, Mossakowski Medical Research Centre, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland; Department of Geriatrics and Gerontology, Medical Centre of Postgraduate Education, Warsaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Monika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Puzianowska-Kuznicka
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Promotion, Faculty of Physiotherapy, University School of Physical Education, Wroclaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Felicja
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Lwow
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology and Diabetology, Wroclaw Medical University, Wroclaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Katarzyna
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kolackov
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology and Diabetology, Wroclaw Medical University, Wroclaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Urszula
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Mieszczanowicz
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology and Diabetology, Wroclaw Medical University, Wroclaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Maurycy
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pawlak
authors.affiliation: Department of Hypertension and Internal Medicine, Pomeranian Medical University, Szczecin, Poland.
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Krzyzanowska-Swiniarska
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine and Endocrinology, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Ewa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bar-Andziak
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathophysiology, Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland.
authors.forename: Jerzy
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chudek
authors.affiliation: The International Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, Warsaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Malgorzata
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mossakowska
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011044:Poland; D018167:Receptors, Calcitriol / Q000235:genetics*; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D018167:Receptors, Calcitriol; D013739:Testosterone; D004958:Estradiol
keywords: Elderly; Estrogen; Polymorphism; Testosterone; Vitamin D receptor (VDR)