Associations of the FokI, BsmI, ApaI, and TaqI polymorphisms of the vitamin D receptor (
VDR) gene with the bone mineral density (BMD) of the lumbar part of the spinal column (BMD LS) and the neck of the femur (BMD
FN), and with the occurrence of fractures, were studied using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and restriction fragment
length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis on DNA isolated from peripheral blood of 239 women and 40 men from the region of western
Poland. Three polymorphisms of the 3′ end of the
VDR gene (BsmI, ApaI, TaqI) indicated a strong linkage disequilibrium. Association analysis of the
VDR gene FokI polymorphism with BMD LS showed a dose effect of allele
f. The association of the
bAT haplotype of the BsmI, ApaI, and TaqI polymorphisms of the
VDR gene with BMD FN was statistically significant. The association of the ApaI polymorphism with the occurrence of fractures
was observed. Associations were also observed between the occurrence of fractures and the
baT haplotypes of the
VDR gene.
Key words osteoporosis - vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene - association - haplotype - bone mineral density