BACKGROUND: Osteoporosis is a multifactorial disorder with a strong genetic component and vitamin D receptor gene has been suggested as a candidate gene for osteoporosis. Therefore the present study was aimed to investigate the role of the VDR Fok 1 gene polymorphism and its influence on vitamin D3 levels and BMD in pre- and postmenopausal osteoporotic women of Indian ethnicity. METHODS: 427 osteoporotic women and 460 age matched controls were included in the study. VDR FOK1 gene polymorphism was assessed by the PCR-RFLP method. Serum vitamin D3 was measured by the HPLC method. RESULTS: The frequency of ff genotype and f allele was significantly high in pre- and postmenopausal osteoporotic women in comparison with controls (p<0.001).In each case individuals with ff genotype had significantly low BMD in comparison with Ff and FF genotypes. No significant association was found between the genotypes and vitamin D3 levels. CONCLUSION: The VDR Fok 1 gene is associated with low bone mass in all our study subjects. The genotype ff of the VDR Fok 1 gene is associated with osteoporosis. Further ff genotype associated significantly with low bone mass. Therefore the f allele of VDR Fok1 gene is an important risk factor for osteoporosis.
BACKGROUND:Osteoporosis is a multifactorial disorder with a strong genetic component and vitamin D receptor gene has been suggested as a candidate gene for osteoporosis. Therefore the present study was aimed to investigate the role of the VDR Fok 1 gene polymorphism and its influence on vitamin D3 levels and BMD in pre- and postmenopausal osteoporoticwomen of Indian ethnicity. METHODS: 427 osteoporoticwomen and 460 age matched controls were included in the study. VDR FOK1 gene polymorphism was assessed by the PCR-RFLP method. Serum vitamin D3 was measured by the HPLC method. RESULTS: The frequency of ff genotype and f allele was significantly high in pre- and postmenopausal osteoporoticwomen in comparison with controls (p<0.001).In each case individuals with ff genotype had significantly low BMD in comparison with Ff and FF genotypes. No significant association was found between the genotypes and vitamin D3 levels. CONCLUSION: The VDR Fok 1 gene is associated with low bone mass in all our study subjects. The genotype ff of the VDR Fok 1 gene is associated with osteoporosis. Further ff genotype associated significantly with low bone mass. Therefore the f allele of VDR Fok1 gene is an important risk factor for osteoporosis.