Relation of common allelic variation at vitamin D receptor locus to bone mineral density and postmenopausal bone loss: cross sectional and longitudinal population study.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether common allelic variation at the vitamin D receptor locus is related to bone mineral density and postmenopausal bone loss.


METHODS
Cross sectional and longitudinal population study.


METHODS
Outpatient clinic in research centre.


METHODS
599 healthy women aged 27 to 72 and 125 women with low bone mass aged 55-77 had bone mineral density measured once in the cross sectional study. 136 women aged 45-54 were followed up for 18 years in the longitudinal study.


METHODS
Bone mineral density measured at the lumbar spine, hip, and forearm and rate of bone loss at different times over 18 years in relation to vitamin D receptor genotype as defined by the endonucleases ApaI, EsmI, and TaqI.


RESULTS
Vitamin D receptor genotype was not related to bone mineral density at any site. The maximum difference between homozygotes was 1.3% (P = 0.33, n = 723). Women with low bone mineral density had almost the same genotype frequencies as the women with normal bone mineral densities. Vitamin D receptor genotype was not related to early postmenopausal bone loss from age 51 to 53 (mean (SD) total loss at the lower forearm -3.6% (3.6%)), late postmenopausal bone loss from age 63 to 69 (at the hip-6.2% (8.7%)), or to long term postmenopausal loss from age 51 to 69 (at the lower forearm-24.5% (11.4%)).


CONCLUSIONS
Common allelic variation at the vitamin D receptor locus as defined by the endonucleases ApaI, EsmI, and TaqI is related neither to bone mineral density nor to the rate of bone loss in healthy postmenopausal Danish women.
Jørgensen
H L
HL
Centre for Clinical and Basic Research, Ballerup, Denmark.
Schøller
J
J
Sand
J C
JC
Bjuring
M
M
Hassager
C
C
Christiansen
C
C
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000483:Alleles; D001483:Base Sequence; D015139:Blotting, Southern; D015519:Bone Density; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D014644:Genetic Variation; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008875:Middle Aged; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D015663:Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal / Q000235:genetics* / Q000503:physiopathology; D018167:Receptors, Calcitriol / Q000235:genetics*
D018167:Receptors, Calcitriol