title: [Association of Apa I polymorphism of vitamin D receptor gene with bone mass in men].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the association of Apa I polymorphism in vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene with bone mass in men.
  
  
  METHODS
  The VDR Apa I genotype was determined by PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) in 388 unrelated healthy men aged 46-80 years of Han nationality in Shanghai city. Bone mineral density (BMD) and bone mineral content (BMC) at lumber spine 1-4 (L1-4) and at any sites of proximal femur including to femoral neck (Neck), trochanter (Troch) and Ward's striangle (Ward's) were measured by duel-energy X-ray absorptiometry.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Frequencies distribution of VDR Apa I genotype were aa for 48.1%, Aa for 44.2% and AA 7.7%. The allele frequencies of Apa I polymorphism were in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. No significant association was found between Apa I genotype and BMD or BMC in group of all population or in subgroup of men below 60 years. In men above 60 years, the significant association was found between VDR Apa I genotype and BMD or BMC at L1-4, Neck and Ward's (P < 0.05, P < 0.01) and compared with Aa and aa genotype, AA genotype had significantly higher mean BMD and BMC at L1-4, Neck and Ward's (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). But Apa I genotype is not associated with BMD and BMC at Troch.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Apa I polymorphism is associated with bone mass in men above 60 years, and AA genotype has higher bone mass. Apa I polymorphism in VDR gene possibly influence loss of trabecular and cortical bone mass in old men.
authors.affiliation: Department of Osteoporosis Research, Center for Osteoporosis, Affiliated Sixth People's Hospital, Jiaotong University, Shanghai 200233, China.
authors.forename: Qi-ren
authors.initials: QR
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Zhen-lin
authors.initials: ZL
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Yue-juan
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Qin
authors.forename: Jin-wei
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: He
authors.forename: Jin-hui
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Qi
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Yun-qiu
authors.initials: YQ
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: Miao
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Yu-juan
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000483:Alleles; D015519:Bone Density; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010641:Phenotype; D012150:Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length; D018167:Receptors, Calcitriol / Q000235:genetics*; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics*; D016335:Zinc Fingers / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D018167:Receptors, Calcitriol; D014157:Transcription Factors; C467905:ZNF410 protein, human