title: The Association of Vitamin D Receptor Polymorphisms with Multiple Sclerosis in a Case-Control Study from Kuwait.
abstract: Vitamin D deficiency is associated with several diseases including multiple sclerosis (MS). Several factors influence vitamin D levels and its optimal multi-function maintenance. Our objective was to assess quantifiable variables influencing vitamin D level and metabolism in MS patients from Kuwait. In a case-control study involving 50 MS patients, and 50 healthy control individuals for which plasma vitamin D levels, supplement use, vitamin D receptor (VDR) variants, and skin pigmentation indices were ascertained; we found overall vitamin D levels to be deficient in both groups, and supplement use to be common practice. VDR variants TaqI and BsmI associated with MS risk, and ApaI associated with low disease progression. VDR variant FokI associated with higher vitamin D levels in both groups. We conclude that several quantifiable variables related to vitamin D associate with MS suggesting a possible clinical immuno-modulatory application of vitamin D for MS patients in Kuwait.
authors.affiliation: Human Genetics Unit, Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Kuwait University, Jabriya, Kuwait.
authors.forename: Rabeah Abbas
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Al-Temaimi
authors.affiliation: Pathology Master's Program, Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Kuwait University, Jabriya, Kuwait.
authors.forename: Anwar
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Al-Enezi
authors.affiliation: Human Genetics Unit, Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Kuwait University, Jabriya, Kuwait.
authors.forename: Ahmad
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Al-Serri
authors.forename: Raed
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Alroughani
authors.affiliation: Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine, Amiri Hospital, Kuwait City, Kuwait.|Neurology Clinic, Department of Medicine, Dasman Diabetes Institute, Kuwait City, Kuwait.
authors.forename: Raed
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Al-Roughani
authors.affiliation: Molecular Pathology Unit, Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Kuwait University, Jabriya, Kuwait.
authors.forename: Fahd
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Al-Mulla
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D005787:Gene Frequency / Q000235:genetics; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease / Q000235:genetics*; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D007730:Kuwait; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000235:genetics*; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide / Q000235:genetics*; D018167:Receptors, Calcitriol / Q000235:genetics*; D012306:Risk; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000235:genetics*; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000235:genetics; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D018167:Receptors, Calcitriol; C579457:VDR protein, human; D014807:Vitamin D