Polymorphisms of the WNT16 gene are associated with the heel ultrasound parameter in young adults

Bone mineral content is influenced by genetic factors. We investigated the role of WNT16 in bone properties determined using quantitative ultrasound (QUS) on young adults. Three WNT16 genetic markers (rs2908007, rs2908004, and rs2707466) were found to have a significant association with the broadband ultrasound attenuation (BUA) measurement, suggesting that WNT16 influences bone mass in young adults.

The aim of this study was to investigate whether genetic markers on the WNT16 gene are associated with bone mass, as assessed using QUS in a population of healthy young Spanish adults.

A cross-sectional study was conducted on 575 individuals (mean age 20.41 ± 2.69). Bone quality was assessed using BUA measurements (dB/MHz) on the right calcaneus. Six single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) (rs2908007, rs2908004, rs3801387, rs3801385, rs2707466, and rs2536184) covering the WNT16 gene were selected as genetic markers and genotyped to test their association with BUA variations.

The rs2908007, rs2908004, and rs2707466 SNPs were found to have a significant association with BUA (p = 0.004, p = 0.001, and p = 0.004, respectively).

We demonstrate for the first time that WNT16 genetic polymorphisms influence QUS traits in a population of young adults. This finding suggests that WNT16 might be an important genetic factor in determining peak bone mass acquisition.