Relationship between bone mineral density and polymorphism of the estrogenreceptor gene in healthy postmenopausal women in China

Objective To investigate the possible relationship between bone mineral den sity and polymorphism of the estrogen receptor (ER) gene in Shanghai health y postmenopausal women. Methods 250 unrelated healthy postmenopausal women were selected for bone m ineral density (BMD) determination by Dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEX A) and polymorphism of estrogen receptor gene analyses by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). Results Pvu II polymorphisms of ER gene was associated with low Troch BMD ( P = 0.0153) while there was no significant relationship between Xba I polym orphism of ER gene and BMD at any of skeletal sites included in the present study, and the combination of PvuII and Xba I polymorphisms of ER gene was significantly associated with both low Lumbar 2- 4 (P = 0.0369) and Troch ( P = 0.0384) BMD. Multiple stepwise regression analysis also indicated tha t two combined polymorphisms were correlated significantly with Lumbar 2 - 4 BMD (P = 0.0254) while this correlation was not revealed at any other ske letal sites. Conclusion There is significant relationship between the polymorphism of ER gene and both Lumbar 2 -4 BMD and Troch BMD. It is significant to explore the pathogenesis of osteoporosis and to prevent the development of osteopro sis by use of molecular genetics.