HERITABLE AND NUTRITIONAL INFLUENCES ON BONE-MINERAL MASS

Osteoporosis is the net result of the maximal amount of bone mineral m ass achieved by the end of pubertal growth (peak bone mass) minus post -menopausal and elderly bone losses. Peak bone mineral mass is determi ned from early childhood by both heritable and environmental factors. Recent developments in the molecular epidemiology of osteoporosis have shown the interest, but also the limitations, of specific molecular m arkers, such as the vitamin D receptor gene polymorphisms Bsm 1 and Fo k 1, to explain bone mineral density differences across the population . Importantly, however, interactions between VDR gene polymorphisms an d environmental factors, particularly dietary calcium, have provided n ew insights into the complex determination of bone mineral mass. (C) 1 998, Editrice Kurtis.