Correlation between vitamin D receptor allele and bone mineral density.

The risk of osteoporotic fracture (frequently occurring in the vertebrae, femur, or hip) is inversely related to the extent of bone mineral density. Evaluation of the gene coding for the vitamin D receptor (VDR) for the hormonally active form of vitamin D3, 1 alpha, 25(OH)2-vitamin D3, indicates the presence of two allelic variants. In a study of 250 Caucasian twins and a second study of 311 unrelated healthy women, it was shown that the common allelic variants of the VDR gene can be used to predict differences in bone mineral density. These results may enable evaluation and prediction of those individuals at risk for early onset of osteoporosis.