INTRODUCTION: 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).
INTRODUCTION: Sex steroids are important for growth and maintenance of the skeleton. Catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) is an estrogen degrading enzyme. The COMTval158met 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 COMTval158met, 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 COMTval158met and BMD were found in this cohort of elderly men. CONCLUSIONS: The COMTval158met 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).
Authors: Dirk Vanderschueren; Michaël R Laurent; Frank Claessens; Evelien Gielen; Marie K Lagerquist; Liesbeth Vandenput; Anna E Börjesson; Claes Ohlsson Journal: Endocr Rev Date: 2014-09-09 Impact factor: 19.871
Authors: A J Herbert; A G Williams; S J Lockey; R M Erskine; C Sale; P J Hennis; S H Day; G K Stebbings Journal: Eur J Appl Physiol Date: 2021-09-22 Impact factor: 3.078
Authors: Sarah C Blott; June E Swinburne; Charlene Sibbons; Laura Y Fox-Clipsham; Maud Helwegen; Lynn Hillyer; Tim D H Parkin; J Richard Newton; Mark Vaudin Journal: BMC Genomics Date: 2014-02-21 Impact factor: 3.969