The COMT val158met polymorphism is associated with prevalent fractures in Swedish men.
BACKGROUND
Sex steroids are important for growth and maintenance of the skeleton. Catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) is an estrogen degrading enzyme. The COMT val158met polymorphism results in a 60-75% difference in enzyme activity between the val (high activity=H) and met (low activity=L) variants. We have previously reported that this polymorphism is associated with bone mineral density (BMD) in young men. The aim of this study was to investigate associations between COMT val158met, BMD and fractures in elderly men.


METHODS
Population-based study of Swedish men 75.4, SD 3.2, years of age. Fractures were reported using standardized questionnaires. Fracture and genotype data were available from 2,822 individuals.


RESULTS
Total number of individuals with self-reported fracture was 989 (35.0%). Prevalence of >or=1 fracture was 37.2% in COMT(LL), 35.7% in COMT(HL) and 30.4% in COMT(HH) (p<0.05). Early fractures (<or=50 years of age) were less common in COMT(HH) than in the combined COMT(LL+HL) genotype, OR 0.78 (95% CI 0.63-0.97). No associations were found for late fractures (>50 years of age). The OR for fracture of the non-weight bearing skeleton in COMT(HH) compared with COMT(LL+HL) was 0.74 (95% CI 0.59-0.92). No associations between COMT val158met and BMD were found in this cohort of elderly men.


CONCLUSIONS
The COMT val158met polymorphism is associated with life time fracture prevalence in elderly Swedish men. This association is mainly driven by early fractures (<or=50 years of age).
Eriksson
Anna L
AL
Center for Bone Research at the Sahlgrenska Academy, Departments of Internal Medicine and Geriatrics, The Sahlgrenska Academy at Göteborg University, Göteborg, Sweden. anna.eriksson@pharm.gu.se
Mellström
Dan
D
Lorentzon
Mattias
M
Orwoll
Eric S
ES
Redlund-Johnell
Inga
I
Grundberg
Elin
E
Holmberg
Anna
A
Ljunggren
Osten
O
Karlsson
Magnus K
MK
Ohlsson
Claes
C
D002394:Catechol O-Methyltransferase / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000201:enzymology / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000235:genetics*; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008715:Methionine / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic / Q000235:genetics*; D012307:Risk Factors; D013548:Sweden / Q000453:epidemiology; D014633:Valine / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
D008715:Methionine; D002394:Catechol O-Methyltransferase; D014633:Valine