Vitamin D receptor polymorphism among rickets children in Mongolia

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Published on: December 9, 2015

Akie Kaneko1, Vaanchig Urnaa, Keiko Nakamura

  • 1Health Promotion, Division of Public Health, Graduate School of Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Yushima, Tokyo, Japan.

Journal of Epidemiology
|January 5, 2007
PubMed

Insights

Vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene variations are not linked to rickets in Mongolian children. This study found no significant association between VDR polymorphism and bone properties in childhood rickets cases.

Area of Science:

  • Genetics
  • Pediatrics
  • Bone Metabolism

Background:

  • High prevalence of rickets (32%) reported in Mongolian children under five.
  • Vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene polymorphism is studied for its role in bone metabolism.
  • Investigated the link between VDR polymorphism and rickets prevalence/bone properties in Mongolian children.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine if VDR gene polymorphism is associated with the high prevalence of rickets in Mongolia.
  • To examine the effect of VDR polymorphism on bone properties in childhood.

Main Methods:

  • Case-control study in Ulaanbaatar with 80 rickets cases and 72 controls (aged 7-10 years).
  • VDR polymorphism assessed using BsmI, ApaI, and TaqI.
  • Bone properties measured by age-standardized tibial cortical speed of sound (TCSOS).

Main Results:

  • Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium confirmed for allelic frequencies in all groups.
  • No significant differences in VDR genotype frequencies between rickets cases and controls.
  • No significant differences in TCSOS based on VDR genotype in either cases or controls.

Conclusions:

  • VDR polymorphism does not appear to be a major factor in the development of rickets in Mongolian children.
  • VDR gene variants do not influence tibial cortical speed of sound in childhood.
Abstract

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