Vitamin D Receptor Gene Polymorphism as a Risk Factor for Chronic Periodontitis

<jats:title>Abstract</jats:title> <jats:p><jats:bold>Background:</jats:bold> The aim of this study was to investigate <jats:italic>vitamin D receptor </jats:italic>(VDR)<jats:italic> </jats:italic>gene polymorphism as a risk factor associated with chronic periodontitis (CP) and to determine the effect of VDR gene polymorphism on phenotypic CP.<jats:bold>Methods:</jats:bold> This study is a case-control design that included 162 adults divided into two groups: patients with CP (case group) and patients without CP (control group). Venous blood and DNA were obtained from individual samples. The gene polymorphism was determined using Restricted Fragment Length Polymorphism-Polymerase Chain Reaction (RFLP-PCR) and DNA sequencing to identify endonuclease restrictions in exon 9 (TaqI). The data were analyzed using an independent t-test and Fisher’s exact test. The odds ratio (OR) was used to calculate the risk of VDR gene polymorphism in CP. <jats:bold>Results:</jats:bold> VDR<jats:italic> </jats:italic>gene polymorphism was detected in patients with CP and a TT genotype (86.4%), Tt genotype (12.4%), and tt genotype (1.2%). The case group with TT and Tt genotypes had an OR of 12.5 (95% CI:1.6–99.8) of having CP compared to the control group (<jats:italic>P</jats:italic><0.05).<jats:bold>Conclusions:</jats:bold> VDR gene polymorphisms (the TT and Tt genotypes) are risk factors associated with individual susceptibility to CP.</jats:p>