BACKGROUND:The vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene serves as a good candidate gene for susceptibility to several diseases. The gene has a critical role in regulating the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) influencing the regulation of blood pressure. Hence determining the association of VDR polymorphisms with essential hypertension is expected to help in the evaluation of risk for the condition.AIM:The aim of this study was to evaluate association between VDRFok I polymorphism and genetic susceptibility to essential hypertension.MATERIALS AND METHODS:Two hundred and eighty clinically diagnosed hypertensive patients and 200 normotensive healthy controls were analyzed for Fok I (T/C) [rs2228570] polymorphism by polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) analysis. Genotype distribution and allele frequencies in patients and controls, and odds ratios (ORs) were calculated to predict the risk for developing hypertension by the individuals of different genotypes.RESULTS:The genotype distribution and allele frequencies of Fok I (T/C) [rs2228570] VDR polymorphism differed significantly between patients and controls (χ2 of 18.0; 2 degrees of freedom; P = 0.000). FF genotype and allele F were at significantly greater risk for developing hypertension and the risk was elevated for both the sexes, cases with positive family history and habit of smoking.CONCLUSIONS:Our data suggest that VDR gene Fok I polymorphism is associated with the risk of developing essential hypertension