Journal of Dentistry

Association between Serum Vitamin D Levels and VDR BsmI Polymorphism in Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction Patients (in the Iranian Population)

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Maryam Mostafavi 1
Fahimeh Rezazadeh 2
Mohammad Javad Fattahi 3
Fatemeh Tavakoli 4
Abbas Ghaderi 3

1 Student Research Committee, School of Dentistry, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.

2 Oral and Dental Disease Research Center, Dept. of Oral and Maxillofacial Medicine, School of Dentistry, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.

3 Shiraz Institute for Cancer Research, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.

4 University at Buffalo, Oral Biology, Surgery and Biomedical Engineering, Buffalo, New York, USA.

https://doi.org/10.30476/dentjods.2025.106238.2644
Abstract
Background: Multiple studies have revealed an association between vitamin D levels, genetic polymorphisms of the VDR (vitamin D receptor) gene, and the underlying causes of various bone and cartilage disorders.
Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the association between the BsmI polymorphism of the VDR gene and serum vitamin D levels in a group of temporomandibular joint dysfunction (TMD) patients compared to healthy controls.
Materials and Method: Our cross-sectional study encompassed 42 TMD patients diagnosed according to the research diagnostic criteria for temporomandibular disorders (RDC /TMD) and 41 healthy subjects. Genomic DNA was prepared, the BsmI variant was analyzed by PCR-RFLP, and the serum vitamin D level was measured by ELISA technique. Chi square and ANOVA test was used for analysis and statistical significance was set at p Value < 0.05.
Results: The serum levels of vitamin D in the TMD group were significantly lower than those in the control group, with values of 43.52±18.16 ng/mL compared to 57.56±21.29 ng/mL (p= 0.002). The prevalence of vitamin D insufficiency was remarkably higher in the patients than in the controls, at 26.19% vs. 4.87%, respectively (p= 0.008). Our analysis revealed no significant differences in the genotype and allele frequencies of the VDR BsmI variant between TMD patients and controls (p= 0.475 and p= 1.000, respectively). Additionally, our study found no significant association between the genotypes of the VDR BsmI variant and vitamin D status (p= 0.363).
Conclusion: Monitoring vitamin D levels in TMD patients is important, as deficiency may impact disease development. Further research is needed on the role of vitamin D and VDR gene variants in managing temporomandibular disorders.

Keywords

Temporomandibular Joint Disorder
Vitamin D
Serum
Receptors
Calcitriol
Insufficiency
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Journal of Dentistry
Volume 27, Issue 2
Spring 2026
Pages 168-175

  • Receive Date 13 April 2025
  • Revise Date 27 September 2025
  • Accept Date 20 December 2025
  • First Publish Date 24 December 2025
  • Publish Date 01 June 2026

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