Vitamin D receptor polymorphisms and bone mineral density in Mexican womenwithout osteoporosis

Polymorphisms corresponding to Apa I, Bsm I, and Tag I restriction endonucl eases at the vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene and bone mineral density (BMD) a t lumbar spine (L2-L4) and proximal femur (neck, Ward's triangle and trocha nteric region) sites were examined in a sample of 98 Mexican women (age 55 +/- 10 years). None of the subjects were pregnant or nursing and none had a previous diagnosis of osteoporosis. Polymorphisms were assessed by the res triction fragment length polymorphism - polymerase chain reaction (RFLP-PCR ) technique. Alleles were denoted with capital. letters for the absence of the RFLP site (A, B, or T) and with small letters for its presence (a, b, o r t). BMD was assessed by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). A structu red, self-administrated questionnaire was used to obtain data on age, menop ause, number of pregnancies, breast-feeding, fractures, exercise, smoking, alcohol, estrogens, calcium supplement, height, weight, and BMI. There were no differences between BMD at the skeletal sites and the genotypes disclos ed by Apa I (Allele A = 0.43), Bsm I (Allele B = 0.26) and Tag I (Allele T = 0.76). The present study provides data for comparison with other studies to determine the possible value of genotyping VDR to predict predisposition for osteoporosis in Mexican or Mexican-American women. (C) 1999 Wiley-Liss , Inc.