["Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is important for pancreatic beta cell development and function. Common variation in the VEGF gene is associated with altered serum concentrations of VEGF and with several diseases, but its role in type 2 diabetes is not known. The single nucleotide polymorphisms C-2578A (rs699947), G-1154A (rs1570360) and G-634C (rs2010963) in the 5'-region of VEGF are associated with altered serum concentrations of the protein.", 'We performed a large case-control and family-based study to test the hypothesis that these variants are associated with type 2 diabetes in a UK Caucasian population.', 'We genotyped 1,969 cases, 1,625 controls and 530 families for the three single nucleotide polymorphisms.', 'Allele and genotype frequencies were compared between cases and controls. Family-based analysis was used to test for over- or under-transmission of alleles to affected offspring.', 'Despite good power (80%) to detect odds ratios of approximately 1.2, there were no significant associations between single alleles or genotypes and type 2 diabetes. Odds ratios (and 95% confidence intervals) comparing case and control allele frequencies for single nucleotide polymorphisms C-2578A, G-1154A and G-634C were 0.97 (0.88-1.07), 0.99 (0.90-1.09) and 0.97 (0.88-1.08), respectively.'] Is functional variation in VEGF associated with type 2 diabetes in a United Kingdom Caucasian population?