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Vitamin D receptor polymorphisms and growth until adulthood after very premature birth

Martijn J J Finken1, Marlies Schrevel2, Jeanine J Houwing-Duistermaat3

  • 1Department of Pediatric Endocrinology, VU University Medical Center, P.O. Box 7057, 1007 MB, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. m.finken@vumc.nl.

Journal of Bone and Mineral Metabolism
|July 28, 2015
PubMed

Insights

Vitamin D receptor gene variants impact growth in very preterm infants. Specific genotypes (c1521g GG and Fok1 ff) correlate with taller adult stature and faster catch-up growth, aiding in understanding postnatal growth trajectories.

Area of Science:

  • Genetics
  • Pediatrics
  • Endocrinology

Background:

  • Bone mass accretion is frequently impaired in preterm infants, potentially leading to postnatal growth failure.
  • Vitamin D plays a crucial role in bone health and development.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between vitamin D receptor (VDR) single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and linear growth in individuals born very prematurely.
  • To determine the impact of specific VDR SNPs on adult stature and early-life catch-up growth.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of 341 subjects from the Dutch Project On Preterm and Small-for-gestational-age infants cohort, born before 32 weeks of gestation.
  • Genotyping for VDR SNPs: c1521g, Fok1, Bsm1, and Taq1.
  • Longitudinal assessment of linear growth from infancy to adulthood.

Main Results:

  • The GG genotype of the c1521g SNP was linked to a 0.36 SD taller adult stature.
  • The ff genotype of the Fok1 SNP was associated with a 0.38 SD taller adult stature.
  • Carrying both GG (c1521g) and ff (Fok1) genotypes resulted in a significantly taller adult height (1.54 SD).
  • Bsm1 and Taq1 variants were associated with accelerated catch-up growth up to 2 years of age.
  • Statistical adjustments for confounders did not alter these findings.

Conclusions:

  • Homozygosity for the minor alleles of VDR SNPs c1521g and Fok1 is associated with increased adult stature in very preterm infants.
  • Minor alleles of VDR SNPs Bsm1 and Taq1 are linked to enhanced catch-up growth during infancy.
  • These genetic variations may influence growth trajectories in extremely preterm individuals.

Keywords:
Follow-up studiesGrowthHeightPreterm birthVitamin D receptor

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