Vitamin D polymorphisms and calcium homeostasis: a new concept of normal gene variants and physiologic variation

The initial findings on the vitamin D receptor have opened the field of the genetics of osteoporosis to targeted genetic studies and may open the way to genome scan approaches. Interaction between genetics, the environment, and lifestyle factors will also be an important target for future research. Understanding the physiology of such gene effects will likely open the way to more specific treatments and the selection of more appropriate and effective treatment options.