Lack of association between estrogen receptor genotypes and bone mineral density, fracture history, or muscle strength in elderly women

The PvuII polymorphism of the estrogen receptor (ESR) gene and its relation to bone mineral density (BMD), fracture history, and muscle strength was s tudied in 313 postmenopausal (76 +/- 5 years) women of Caucasian origin, of whom 142 had suffered from a fragility fracture after the age of 50 years (14 with fracture of the hip, 38 of the spine, 45 of the wrist, and 85 of o ther bones). The ESR genotype distribution was similar in women with and wi thout a history of fragility fracture (PP 21%, Pp 43%, pp 36% compared with PP 18%, Pp 47%, pp 35%), We did not find a correlation between the ESR gen otypes and BMD at the lumbar spine, the femoral neck, or the proximal forea rm. No association was found with grip or quadriceps strength. We further e valuated the relationship between the vitamin D receptor (VDR) and ESR hapl otypes and BMD in a random subgroup of 270 elderly women. No differences we re found in women with the BBpp versus the bbPP haplotype in the femoral ne ck (mean difference +/-SD, in Bbpp compared with bbPP groups: -0.05 +/- 0.1 5 g/cm(2)), the spine (0.01 +/- 0.13 g/cm2), or the forearm (0.04 +/- 0.08 g/cm(2)). The significant association of quadriceps strength with VDR genot ypes (25% lower in BE compared with bb genotype, p < 0.05) was not influenc ed by ESR haplotypes, We conclude that in elderly Caucasian women the PvuII ESR polymorphism is not associated with osteoporosis, fracture history, no r muscle strength and does not influence the association of bone density an d muscle strength with polymorphism of the VDR.