Correlation of VDBP Gene Polymorphisms With Susceptibility to Polycystic Ovary Syndrome in Iraqi Women

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a multifactorial endocrine disorder with significant genetic components. Vitamin D binding protein (VDBP) regulates vitamin D bioavailability, and its gene polymorphisms may influence PCOS susceptibility. This study investigated the correlation of VDBP SNPs rs4588 and rs7041 with the risk of developing PCOS in Iraqi women. A case-control study involving 60 PCOS patients and 30 healthy controls was conducted. Serum vitamin D and VDBP levels were measured, and VDBP SNPs (rs4588, rs7041) were genotyped by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The results showed that the levels of VDBP were significantly lower in individuals with PCOS compared to healthy individuals, with a statistically significant difference (p < 0.05). The frequencies of A and G alleles were 0.46 and 0.54 in PCOS while 0.47 and 0.53 in the control, respectively. The homozygous GG genotype and the heterozygous AG genotype were not statistically significant in PCOS patients compared to the controls. Furthermore, the frequencies of the A and C alleles for the rs7041 SNP were 0.47 and 0.53 in PCOS, respectively, while they were 0.42 and 0.58 in the control group. When compared to the control group, PCOS patients' homozygous AA and heterozygous AC genotypes showed statistically significant differences (p < 0.05). Conversely, there are no appreciable variations in the prevalence of homozygous CC genotypes between PCOS patients and controls. The findings of the study revealed that the rs7041 polymorphisms in the VDBP gene may contribute to increasing the risk of PCOS.