(P17-064-23) Interaction of Vitamin D Receptor Gene FokI Variants and PUFA w3 on Perceived Stress Score and Serum Cortisol Levels in Nurses: A Cross-Sectional Study

Objectives: There is a high prevalence of perceived stress among nurses. Recent studies have shown that PUFA w3 and genetic variants contribute to perceived stress. This study aimed to examine interactions between vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene FokI polymorphism and PUFA w3 on perceived stress score and serum cortisol levels in nurses.

Methods: A total of 268 Iranian nurses (248 women; 20 men) participated in this cross-sectional study. PUFA w3 and perceived stress score of participants were evaluated using a 3-day food record and the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS)-10, respectively. Serum cortisol concentrations were evaluated by ELISA. VDR FokI polymorphism was genotyped using the restriction fragment length polymorphism method.

Results: No significant relationship was found between PUFA w3 with perceived stress score or cortisol level in FF genotype carriers, but, lower intake of PUFA was related to higher cortisol level (p=0.04) in Ff carriers. Significant interactions were observed between VDR FOKI polymorphism and intakes of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) (P Interaction=0.06), linoleic acid (P Interaction=0.06), and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) (P Interaction=0.06) on serum cortisol. in this way that lower intake of EPA, linoleic acid, and DHA was associated with an increase in cortisol levels in individuals with ff genotype. Moreover, in carriers of ff genotype, lower intake of EPA was related to the elevated perceived stress score (P Interaction=0.06).

Conclusions: FokI polymorphism interacts with PUFA w3 (EPA, linoleic acid, and DHA) to increase cortisol level and with EPA to increase perceived stress score in nurses.

Funding Sources: Osteoporosis Research Center, Endocrinology and Metabolism Clinical Sciences Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences (TUMS), Tehran, Iran