Vitamin D Receptor Gene Variants Susceptible to Osteoporosis in Arab Post-Menopausal Women

Post-menopausal osteoporosis (PMO) is a multifactorial bone disorder in elderly women. Various vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene variants have been studied and associated with osteoporosis in other populations, but not in a homogenous Arab ethnic group. Herein, the current study explores the association between VDR polymorphisms and susceptibility to osteoporosis in Saudi postmenopausal women. In total, 600 Saudi postmenopausal women (N = 300 osteoporosis; N = 300 control) were genotyped for VDR gene variants ( , , ) using TaqMan SNP genotyping assays. Bone mineral density (BMD) for the lumbar spine and femur was assessed using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA). The heterozygous frequency distributions AC of , CT of , and AG of were significantly higher in the osteoporosis group than controls ( < 0.05). Heterozygous AC of (1.6; 95% CI 1.1-2.3; < 0.023), CT of (1.6; 95% CI 1.1-2.4; < 0.022), and AG of (1.6; 95% CI 1.1-2.4; < 0.024) were significantly associated with increased risk of osteoporosis, independent of age and BMI. In conclusion, VDR gene variants , , had a significant effect on BMD and were associated with osteoporosis risk in Saudi postmenopausal women.