[Vitamin D receptor polymorphism in the group of postmenopausal women with low bone mineral density]

Osteoporosis is a multifactoral disease with aetiology depending from the hormonal, environmental, and genetic factors. One of the suggested candidate gene involved in the pathogenesis is the polymorphic gene encoding for vitamin D receptor (VDR). VDR polymorphism was connected with bone mineral density (BMD) and correlated with onset of osteoporosis. The goal of our study was to determine the role of BsmI polymorphism of VDR gene in the group of postmenopausal women with low bone mineral density.

We have analysed the group of 34 postmenopausal women. The DNA analysis was performed using PCR/RFLP (polymerase chain reaction/restriction fragment length polymorphism) assays.

In our investigation we have observed statistically higher frequency of B allele (48.5% vs. 41.2%), the lower frequency of b allele (51.5% vs. 58.8%) and bb genotype (8.8% vs. 42.5%) in the investigated group of postmenopausal women with low BMD.

Our observations could suggest the important role of B allele of the VDR gene in the pathogenesis of osteoporosis in the group of women with low mineral density and possible protective role of b allele in this disease.