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BMC Sports Science, Medicine and Rehabilitation
Published in: BMC Sports Science, Medicine and Rehabilitation 1/2017

Open Access 01-12-2017 | Research article

Low back pain and FokI (rs2228570) polymorphism of vitamin D receptor in athletes

Authors: Sabina Cauci, Francesca Migliozzi, Carlo Simone Trombetta, Ilaria Venuto, Paola Saccheri, Luciana Travan, Giovanni Chiriacò

Published in: BMC Sports Science, Medicine and Rehabilitation | Issue 1/2017

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Abstract

Background

Low back pain (LBP) is common in athletes. LBP can be detrimental to athletic performance and health. Factors predisposing to LBP in athletes remain elusive and require further studies. We investigated whether carriage of a specific genotype and/or allele of vitamin D receptor gene (VDR) FokI polymorphism (rs2228570) was a risk factor for LBP in athletes of different sports disciplines.

Methods

This genotype/phenotype association case-control study included 60 Italian athletes (25 females and 35 males; mean age 33.9 ± 13.3 years; body-mass-index 23.5 ± 3.5 kg/m2) of which 16.7% were swimmers, 11.7% soccer players, 11.7% volleyball players, 10.0% rugby players and other disciplines. VDR-FokI polymorphism was measured by PCR-RFLP in 24 athletes with LBP and 36 athletes without LBP episodes. Absence or presence of the FokI restriction site was denoted “F” and “f”, respectively. Other risk factors were evaluated by a questionnaire.

Results

The homozygous FF genotype was found in 58.3% (14/24) of athletes with LBP versus 27.8% (10/36) of athletes without LBP, adjusted OR = 5.78, 95% CI 1.41–23.8, P = 0.015. The F allele was a 2-fold risk factor to develop LBP, adjusted OR = 2.55, 95% CI 1.02–6.43, P = 0.046, while f allele was protective. Exposure to vehicle vibrations ≥2 h daily, and family history of lumbar spine pathology were significant risk factors for LBP with OR = 3.54, and OR = 9.21, respectively.

Conclusions

This is the first study in which an association between VDR-FokI polymorphism and LBP in athletes was found. Further research is needed to extend our results, and to clarify the biochemical pathways associated with how vitamin D modulates LBP in athletes. The VDR-FokI polymorphism should be considered when developing genetic focused studies of precision medicine on health in athletes.
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Metadata
Title
Low back pain and FokI (rs2228570) polymorphism of vitamin D receptor in athletes
Authors
Sabina Cauci
Francesca Migliozzi
Carlo Simone Trombetta
Ilaria Venuto
Paola Saccheri
Luciana Travan
Giovanni Chiriacò
Publication date
01-12-2017
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Sports Science, Medicine and Rehabilitation / Issue 1/2017
Electronic ISSN: 2052-1847
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s13102-017-0069-x

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