[Association of Apa I polymorphism of vitamin D receptor gene with bone mass in men].
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.
Huang
Qi-ren
QR
Department of Osteoporosis Research, Center for Osteoporosis, Affiliated Sixth People's Hospital, Jiaotong University, Shanghai 200233, China.
Zhang
Zhen-lin
ZL
Qin
Yue-juan
YJ
He
Jin-wei
JW
Lu
Jin-hui
JH
Zhou
Qi
Q
Hu
Yun-qiu
YQ
Li
Miao
M
Liu
Yu-juan
YJ
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
D018167:Receptors, Calcitriol; D014157:Transcription Factors; C467905:ZNF410 protein, human