title: Relation of aromatase gene polymorphism and hormone replacement therapy to serum estradiol levels, bone mineral density, and fracture risk in early postmenopausal women.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  After the menopause, estrogen synthesis from androgens and androgen precursors by aromatase is the main source of circulating estrogens.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate whether aromatase gene (CYP19)polymorphism affects circulating estradiol (E2) levels, bone mineral density (BMD), BMD change or fracture risk.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 5-year randomized hormone replacement therapy (HRT) trial on 331 early postmenopausal women (mean baseline age 52.7 +/- 2.3 years). The participants consisted of two treatment groups: the HRT group (n = 151) received a sequential combination of 2 mg estradiol valerate and 1 mg cyproterone acetate with or without vitamin D3, 100-300 IU + 93 mg calcium as lactate/day, and the non-HRT group (n = 180) received 93 mg calcium alone or in combination with vitamin D3, 100-300 IU/day for 5 years. BMD was measured from lumbar spine and proximal femur (DXA) before and after the 5-year trial. All new symptomatic, radiographically defined fractures were recorded during the follow-up. The polymorphism (intron 4 TTTA repeat) of CYP19 was evaluated after PCR amplification of the polymorphic site. CYP19 polymorphism was divided into three repeat groups: short (length of 7 or 8 in both alleles; n = 135), long (length of 11 or higher in both alleles; n = 47), and medium (rest of the values; n = 149).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the baseline characteristics, only physical activity was associated with CYP19 polymorphism (P = 0.04) and a borderline significance was observed with previous fractures (P = 0.05). In the HRT or non-HRT groups, the 5-year serum E2 change was not associated with CYP19 polymorphism (P = 0.87 and 0.74, respectively). Further, the polymorphism did not influence the calculated annual changes of lumbar or femoral neck BMD during the 5-year follow-up in the HRT (P = 0.60 and 0.17, respectively) or non-HRT (P = 0.92 and 0.80, respectively) groups. In all, 28 women sustained 33 fractures during the follow-up. The CYP19 polymorphism was not significantly associated with fracture risk (P = 0.89 and 0.23 respectively; Cox proportional hazards model) in the HRT or non-HRT groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  CYP19 polymorphism was not associated with circulating E2 levels, BMD values, or fracture risk in these early postmenopausal Finnish women. If such an association exists in women, it may become apparent in older age groups.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Kuopio University Kuopio, Finland. salmen@hytti.uku.fi
authors.forename: Timo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Salmen
authors.forename: Anna-Mari
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Heikkinen
authors.forename: Anitta
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mahonen
authors.forename: Heikki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kröger
authors.forename: Marja
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Komulainen
authors.forename: Heli
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Pallonen
authors.forename: Seppo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Saarikoski
authors.forename: Risto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Honkanen
authors.forename: Pekka H
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Mäenpää
mesh_terms: D001141:Aromatase / Q000235:genetics*; D015519:Bone Density / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics*; D002762:Cholecalciferol / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003534:Cyproterone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004958:Estradiol / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000097:blood* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000453:epidemiology; D005838:Genotype; D020249:Hormone Replacement Therapy; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D017698:Postmenopause; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D002762:Cholecalciferol; D004958:Estradiol; D003534:Cyproterone; D001141:Aromatase