Study of FokI and ApaI Polymorphisms of Vitamin D Receptor Gene in Iranian Postmenopausal Women with Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis along with decreased bone density can lead to bone structure loss which increases the risk of fractures. Recent identification of genetic factors impels researchers to assess association of genetic variations with osteoporosis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between FokI and ApaI polymorphisms of vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene and serum calcium level, serum 25-OH vitamin D level and osteoporosis in Iranian postmenopausal women.
In this study, we included 194 over 50 years old postmenopausal women with osteoporosis and osteopenia and 50 over 50 years old healthy postmenopausal women as the control group. To study the polymorphisms, genomic DNA was extracted from blood samples containing EDTA anticoagulant. Genotyping of FokI and ApaI polymorphisms of VDR gene was performed using PCR-RFLP method.
Weight, height, age, serum 25-OH vitamin D, and calcium level were compared in three groups of control, osteopenia, and osteoporosis. The mean of serum calcium level was not significantly different but the means of age, weight, height, and serum 25-OH vitamin D level were significantly different between the patients and control group. Also, the differences in the distribution of FokI and ApaI genotypes were not statistically significant among the patients with osteopenia, osteoporosis and the control group.
It seems that there is no association between FokI and ApaI polymorphisms of VDR gene and osteoporosis.