Recent studies have implicated variation in the vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene in susceptibility to several diseases, including osteoporosis and pulmonary tuberculosis.
Our results indicate, for the first time, an association between Graves' disease and a VDR polymorphism in the Japanese and suggest that a VDR-FokI polymorphism may affect bone mineral metabolism and can predict risk of osteoporosis as a complication of Graves' disease in patients in remission.
Polymorphisms in the vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene have been implicated in osteoporosis but explain only a small part of the genetic effect on bone mineral density (BMD) while their effect on fractures is still uncertain.
A number of studies have reported correlations between vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene polymorphisms and several diseases including prostate cancer and osteoporosis.
To determine whether a polymorphism of the vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene, already associated with osteoporosis, might also relate to the risk of osteoarthritis (OA).
Results from this study suggest that the VDRp.Gly14Ala and p.His305Gln genetic variants are significantly associated with BMD decrease in Chinese postmenopausal women and might be used as molecular markers for assessing the risk of BMD and osteoporosis.
VDR alleles are significant independent predictors of peak femoral neck, but not lumbar spine BMD, even after adjusting for family history of osteoporosis, weight, age, and exercise.
The association between VDR BsmI polymorphism and osteoporosis was estimated by calculating pooled odds ratios (ORs) with corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs).
Our findings may partially explain the earlier inconsistent association results concerning the VDR gene and BMD, and highlight the importance of incorporating covariates such as BMI into osteoporosis association studies.
In an ethnically homogeneous population of women living in Tuscany, Italy, the relationships between age, body weight, bone mineral density and the vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene polymorphism were studied, with the objective of recognizing patients at risk for osteoporosis.
Polymorphisms of the VDR have major effects on vitamin D function and metabolism, and some VDR genotypes have been linked to osteoporosis and MS. Because the safety of high doses of vitamin D has not been established yet, vitamin D hasn't been used in enough doses to increase the serum level to a desired therapeutic target.
In conclusion, premenopausal bone mass, postmenopausal bone loss and the subsequent risk of osteoporosis and fractures were not predicted by vitamin D receptor genotype in a high-endemic area of osteoporosis.
Although several candidate genes, such as the vitamin-D-receptor gene or the estrogen-receptor gene, have been suggested in the pathogenesis of osteoporosis, the genetic dissection of this disorder remains a daunting task.