Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase polymorphism (MTHFR C677T) and bone mineral density in Chinese men and women.

The relationship between MTHFR (C677T) genotypes of the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase, bone mineral density (BMD), and vertebral fracture was studied in 657 Chinese men and women. No association between MTHFR (C677T) and BMD was found in postmenopausal women (aged 55-59 years, n=178), elderly women (aged 70-79 years, n=247), or elderly men (aged 70-79 years, n=232) at the hip, spine, or total body (P >0.05 by ANCOVA). In all study groups, there was no effect of an interaction between MTHFR (C677T) and daily dietary calcium intake on BMD (P >0.05 for the interaction effects by two-way ANCOVA). No statistically significant association was observed between MTHFR (C677T) genotypes and vertebral fracture. The MTHFR (C677T) genotypes for CC, CT, and TT among elderly women with or without vertebral fracture were 5%, 33%, 62%; 6%, 37%, and 57%, respectively, and those for elderly men with and without vertebral fracture were 9%, 31%, 60%; 5%, 35%, and 60%, respectively. The prevalence of TT in our study group was 5% compared to 8% in the Danish or 18.6% in the Japanese. We found no association between MTHFR (C677T) and BMD of Chinese men or women. It would be interesting to study the interactions with folate, B12, and homocysteine.