Estrogen receptor alpha and vitamin D receptor gene polymorphisms and bone mineral density: association study of healthy pre- and postmenopausal Chinese women

Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2003 Sep 5;308(4):777-83. doi: 10.1016/s0006-291x(03)01479-7.

Abstract

In the present study, we tested the association between the estrogen receptor alpha (ER-alpha) and vitamin D receptor (VDR) genes with bone mineral density (BMD). A total of 649 healthy Chinese women, classified as pre-menopausal (N=388) and post-menopausal (N=261) groups, were genotyped at the ER-alpha PvuII, XbaI, and VDR ApaI sites. BMDs at the lumbar spine (L(1)-L(4)) and total hip were measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. For the VDR ApaI locus, AA carriers had lower spine BMD than Aa (p=0.02) and aa carriers (p<0.01) in the pre-menopausal group. For the ER-alpha gene, carriers of haplotype px had lower spine BMD than the non-carriers (p=0.03) in the pre-menopausal group. Furthermore, we observed significant interaction between the ER-alpha and VDR genes in the post-menopausal group: with AA genotype (or A allele) at the VDR ApaI locus, pX carriers had higher spine BMD than the non-carriers (p=0.02), and PX carriers had lower hip BMD than the non-carriers (p=0.04). Our data suggest that the ER-alpha and VDR genes may be associated with the BMD variation in Chinese women.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Absorptiometry, Photon
  • Aged
  • Alleles
  • Bone Density*
  • China
  • Estrogen Receptor alpha
  • Family Health
  • Female
  • Genotype
  • Haplotypes
  • Humans
  • Middle Aged
  • Polymorphism, Genetic*
  • Postmenopause
  • Premenopause
  • Receptors, Calcitriol / genetics*
  • Receptors, Estrogen / genetics*
  • Time Factors

Substances

  • Estrogen Receptor alpha
  • Receptors, Calcitriol
  • Receptors, Estrogen