COMMON POLYMORPHISM OF THE VITAMIN-D-RECEPTOR GENE IS ASSOCIATED WITHVARIATION OF PEAK BONE MASS IN YOUNG FINNS

Previous studies suggested a relation between polymorphism of the vita min D receptor (VDR) gene and bone mineral density (BMD) at perimenopa usal age, To enlighten the possible association of the VDR gene polymo rphism and BMD, we studied young (20-29 years) adults whose BMD provid es a measure of their maximal bone mass, After sequencing the DNA regi ons flanking the polymorphic BsmI site, we set up a specific solid-pha se minisequencing technique to assay this allelic variation. BMD value s were adjusted for age, sex, weight, physical activity, smoking, and calcium intake. Young subjects homozygous for the b allele (BsmI site present) had a significantly higher BMD in lumbar spine and femoral ne ck than those homozygous for the B allele (BsmI site absent). This dat a shows that the BsmI polymorphism of the VDR gene is associated with peak bone mass. The implication of this result regarding the preventio n of osteoporosis deserves fur ther attention.