POLYMORPHISM AT THE SP-1 BINDING-SITE IN THE COLLAGEN TYPE-I ALPHA-1 GENE DOES NOT PREDICT BONE-MINERAL DENSITY IN POSTMENOPAUSAL WOMEN IN SWEDEN

Polymorphisms at the binding site of the Sp 1 transcription factor of the collagen type I alpha 1 gene have recently been suggested to be an important marker for low bone mineral density (BMD) and vertebral fra cture in a population of predominantly postmenopausal British women. W e examined whether the unfavorable ''s'' allele was associated with lo w BMD in 64 patients with primary osteoporosis and in 72 healthy contr ols. We found no statistically significant differences between COLIA1 genotypes with regard to BMD at the spine and femoral neck. In 36 pati ents with seven osteoporosis with vertebral fracture the genotype freq uencies were similar to that observed in 67 age-matched controls. Thes e data indicate that the Sp 1 polymorphisms in the COLIA1 gene are unl ikely to be of clinical value in identifying Swedish subjects who are at risk of postmenopausal osteoporosis.