Abstract

Introduction: obesity is associated with chronic diseases, with women being more prone, possibly due to the relationship between the α-estrogen receptor and vitamin D receptors. Objective: the objective of this research is to analyze the distribution of VDR rs7975232 (ApaI) genotypes in Latin American populations and its relationship with genetic ancestry. Method: 446 SNPs from an AIMs panel were used to estimate genetic ancestry proportions in individuals from Peru, Mexico, Colombia, and Puerto Rico using STRUCTURE software. Kruskal-Wallis, Mann-Whitney tests and logistic regression were applied for analyses. Results: risk genotypes AA and CA show a low proportion of Native American ancestry and a high proportion of European and African ancestry. Logistic regression indicated an inverse effect of Native American ancestry on risk genotypes. Conclusion: the results suggest that Native American ancestry decreases the likelihood of carrying VDR rs7975232 risk genotypes. These findings contribute to a better understanding of genetic variability and its relationship with health conditions in these populations.