Association between vitamin D receptor gene polymorphisms and bone mineral density in Chinese women

Vitamin D receptor ( VDR ) is implicated in the regulation of bone mineral density (BMD). In this study, we performed a meta-analysis to evaluate the association between the VDR Bsm I (rs1544410) and Apa I (rs7975232) polymorphisms and BMD in Chinese women. Literature was retrieved from PubMed and other databases. The studies on the association between VDR Bsm I and Apa I genotypes and BMD at the lumbar spine, the femoral neck, the trochanter or the Ward’s triangle in Han Chinese women were included in this meta-analysis. Pooled BMD differences and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using random- or fixed- effects model. Twenty-five eligible studies, which included 4,075 Chinese women, were identified. No significant difference was observed for either genotype when the meta-analysis was limited to premenopausal women. In postmenopausal women, BMD differences were significant for BB vs. Bb [−0.029 (95% CI −0.056, −0.002) g/m 2 , P = 0.037] at the femoral neck, AA vs. Aa [−0.029 (95% CI −0.051, −0.006) g/m 2 , P = 0.012] at the lumbar spine, and Aa vs. aa [0.022(95% CI 0.011, 0.033) g/m 2 , P = 0.000] at the trochanter. These results suggest a modest but statistically significant association between VDR Bsm I and Apa I polymorphisms and BMD in Chinese postmenopausal women, with higher BMD in heterozygous subjects. More epidemiological and mechanistic studies are needed to further investigate the role of VDR gene polymorphisms in regulating BMD and osteoporosis in the future.