Birthweight, vitamin D receptor gene polymorphism, and risk of lumbar spine osteoarthritis.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate risk factors for adult lumbar spine osteoarthritis (OA) including polymorphisms of the vitamin D receptor gene (VDR) and birthweight.


METHODS
Plain radiographs of the lumbar spine were taken in 392 healthy subjects and graded for osteophytes and disc space narrowing (DSN); demographic data were collected. Details of birthweight and weight at 1 year were retrieved from historical records. VDR gene allelic variation was analyzed in 291 subjects.


RESULTS
The mean age of the cohort was 65.8 years; mean weight was 68.9 kg in women and 80.1 kg and men. Osteophytes of grade >/= 2 were found in 63.5% of this cohort; DSN >/= 2 was present in 14.3% of subjects. Increasing osteophyte severity was significantly associated with age, adult weight, and manual social class; DSN was not. Presence and severity of osteophytes were associated with low birthweight and lower weight at 1 year in men, but not in women. No associations were found for DSN. The B allele of the VDR gene was associated with increasing severity of osteophyte. There was a significant interaction between birthweight and VDR gene in determining risk of osteophytosis in men (p for interaction = 0.04). The VDR-birthweight interaction pattern was similar but not statistically significant in women.


CONCLUSIONS
Lumbar spine OA was a prevalent finding in this cohort. Both birthweight and polymorphisms in the VDR gene were associated with the presence of lumbar spine osteophytes and a significant interaction was observed between these 2 factors in men.
Jordan
Kelsey M
KM
MRC Epidemiology Resource Centre, Southampton University Hospitals NHS Trust, Southampton, England.
Syddall
Holly
H
Dennison
Elaine M
EM
Cooper
Cyrus
C
Arden
Nigel K
NK
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001724:Birth Weight / Q000235:genetics*; D004739:England / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D007230:Infant, Low Birth Weight; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D011859:Radiography; D018167:Receptors, Calcitriol / Q000235:genetics*; D012307:Risk Factors; D013128:Spinal Osteophytosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology
D018167:Receptors, Calcitriol