Association of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A +936 C/T Polymorphism With Non‐Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in a Bangladeshi Population: A Case‐Control Study
Rakibul Hasan Shanto, Imran Hossain, Ahmad Niaz Rahman, Fazle Rabbi, Anik Dhar, Sheikh Faisal Asadullah Mahdi, Tarhima Jahan Jerin, Md. Samsul Arafin, Mamun Al Mahtab, Sheikh Zahir RaihanABSTRACT
Background and Aims
Non‐Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) ranges from hepatic steatosis to advanced cirrhosis. Polymorphisms in the vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA) gene can change its expression, potentially altering angiogenesis and advancing disease stage. This study aimed to evaluate the association between the VEGFA +936 C/T polymorphism and susceptibility to NAFLD in a Bangladeshi population.
Methods
A case‐control study was conducted including 100 NAFLD patients and 100 controls. NAFLD was diagnosed by ultrasonography. Genotyping was performed using allele‐specific polymerase chain reaction followed by gel electrophoresis. Biochemical parameters were measured using standard enzymatic methods following the manufacturer's instructions.
Results
The frequency of the T allele was significantly higher in NAFLD patients compared to controls (22.5% vs. 12%). The control genotype distribution was consistent with Hardy‐Weinberg equilibrium ( χ 2 = 0.2812, p = 0.60). The Cochran–Armitage trend test indicated an association between increasing T‐allele dosage and NAFLD ( Z = 2.68, p = 0.007). In logistic regression, the T‐allele was associated with NAFLD in the crude additive model (OR = 2.05, 95% CI: 1.20–3.51, p = 0.009) and after adjustment for age, sex, BMI, and fasting blood glucose (OR = 2.14, 95% CI: 1.13–4.08, p = 0.02). Under the dominant model, the association remained significant in both crude (OR = 2.27, 95% CI: 1.22–4.22, p = 0.01) and adjusted analyses (OR = 2.51, 95% CI: 1.18–5.33, p = 0.02). NAFLD patients showed significantly higher blood pressure, fasting blood glucose, HbA1c, total cholesterol, ALT, and AST, with lower HDL, while body mass index didn't differ significantly between groups.
Conclusion
This study demonstrated a significant association between the VEGFA +936 C/T polymorphism and susceptibility to NAFLD in a Bangladeshi population. However, due to the small sample size and limited number of TT individuals, further large‐scale and functional studies are required to validate these findings.