title: The association between vitamin D receptor gene polymorphisms (TaqI and FokI), Type 2 diabetes, and micro-/macrovascular complications in postmenopausal women.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Since there is evidence of the action of vitamin D as a modulator of insulin release and atherosclerosis, it may well be that the vitamin D receptor polymorphisms are associated with diabetes and its chronic complications.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To examine the associations between vitamin D receptor polymorphisms (FokI and TaqI) and Type 2 diabetes (T2DM) and its associated chronic complications in postmenopausal women.
  
  
  METHODS
  This cross-sectional study analyzed 100 postmenopausal women with T2DM (mean age 65.7±7.18 years) and 100 postmenopausal women without diabetes in the control group (mean age 65.1±9.18 years; P=0.1608). We evaluated clinical and metabolic parameters and analyzed TaqI and FokI polymorphisms.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were no significant differences in genotype and allele frequencies between patients and controls in either of the polymorphisms studied. In the group of patients with diabetes, there were no significant differences in either polymorphism in relation to stroke, retinopathy, nephropathy, or neuropathy. However, in patients with T2DM and coronary artery disease, f genotype (P=0.0361) and the combination of Ff + ff genotypes were observed less frequently (P=0.0462).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study suggests the potential protective factor of FokI polymorphism for coronary artery disease in postmenopausal women with T2DM in the recessive model.
authors.affiliation: Division of Endocrinology and Diabetes, Agamenon Magalhães Hospital.
authors.forename: Juliana
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Maia
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biological Sciences, University of Pernambuco Medical School, Recife.
authors.forename: Andreia Soares
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: da Silva
authors.affiliation: Federal University of São Francisco Valley, Petrolina, Pernambuco, Brazil.
authors.forename: Rodrigo Feliciano
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: do Carmo
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biological Sciences, University of Pernambuco Medical School, Recife.
authors.forename: Taciana Furtado
authors.initials: TF
authors.lastname: de Mendonça
authors.affiliation: Division of Endocrinology and Diabetes, Agamenon Magalhães Hospital.
authors.forename: Luiz Henrique Maciel
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Griz
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biological Sciences, University of Pernambuco Medical School, Recife.
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Moura
authors.affiliation: Division of Endocrinology and Diabetes, Agamenon Magalhães Hospital.
authors.forename: Francisco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bandeira
keywords: Type 2 diabetes; VDR; polymorphism; vitamin D