The RANKL rs12585014 polymorphism is associated with age at menarche in postmenopausal women with hip fracture

The RANK/RANKL/OPG signaling is important in the regulation of bone turnover. The aim of the present work was to analyze the rs3018362 and rs12585014 polymorphisms in the RANK and RANKL genes, as well as risk factors in postmenopausal women. Women with hip fracture, with femoral neck osteoporosis and controls (n = 646) were recruited. From these, 303 women who fulfill the inclusion criteria were genotyped using real-time PCR with TaqMan probes. There were no associations of the rs3018362 and rs12585014 with osteoporosis or fracture. When women were divided by age at menarche, the rs12585014 GG genotype was strongly associated with age at menarche >13 years [p = .00774, OR = 6.429 (1.907-21.103)] in women with hip fracture. Significant differences in risk factors such as body mass index, age at menopause, use of estrogens, the presence of hypertension, and diabetes mellitus were found. Carrying the GG genotype of rs12585014 entails a higher risk of having menarche later (>13 years), which could involves a greater risk of fractures. The rs3018362 and rs12585014 do not seem to be associated with hip osteoporosis or hip fracture in Mexican women.