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International Journal of Recent Trends in Science and Technology, ISSN 2277-2812 E-ISSN: 2249-8109

Volume 12, Issue 2, September 2014 pp 386-393
Research Article

Study of vitamin D receptor polymorphisms (FokI, TaqI, ApaI) in acute lower respiratory infections among hospitalised Indian children

Deepa Haldar1, B C Kabi2, Pankaj R Kamble3, Manish Tripathi4, J N Mohapatra5

{1Senior Resident, 2Director-Professor and Head} {5Senior Specialist, Department of Paediatrics} Vardhman Mahavir Medical College and Safdarjang Hospital, New Delhi, 110029, INDIA.

3Assistant Professor, Department of Biochemistry, Shri Vasantrao Naik Government Medical College, Yavatmal, Maharashtra, INDIA.

4Attending Consultant, Department of Anesthesia, Sitaram Bhartia Institute of Science and Research, New Delhi, INDIA.

Abstract
Background: Acute Lower Respiratory Infections (ALRI) is the most common cause of global child mortality, with the incidence almost 10 times higher in developing countries in under-5 children. Many in vitro studies have shown the role of vitamin D in promoting and regulating immune response via binding to vitamin D receptor (VDR). In this study, we aimed to find the association between vitamin D receptor polymorphism and ALRI. Methods: Three vitamin D receptor (VDR) polymorphisms (FokI, TaqI, ApaI) were studied by the method of PCR-RFLP in 78 hospitalised cases of acute lower respiratory infections (ALRI) and were compared with 75 age and sex matched apparently healthy children below five years of age. Serum vitamin D levels were also measured. Results: TaqI tt genotype and independent t allele were found to confer a significant protection against ALRI. FokI and ApaI genotypes had no significant association with the risk of ALRI in our study population. Vitamin D levels were found to be significantly low in children suffering from ALRI. No statistically significant difference in vitamin D levels was found among the three genotypes in FokI, TaqI and ApaI polymorphisms. Conclusions: The present study demonstrates that presence of tt genotype confers a significant protection against ALRI of bacterial origin.