RESUMEN
OBJECTIVE: To examine the relationship between Osteoprotegerin gene polymorphisms, and bone mineral density (BMD). METHODS: Restriction fragment length polymorphisms at the Osteoprotegerin A163G, T950C, G1181C gene site, and BMD at the lumbar spine and proximal femur were analyzed in 229 postmenopausal Korean women (81 normal, 111 osteopenic and 37 osteoporotic patients). BMDs were measured by DEXA. The subjects were divided in normal, osteopenic and osteoporotic on the basis of the T-score values according to the classification of the World Health Organization (WHO). RESULTS: The genotype distribution of A163G, T950C and G1181C polymorphisms in all postmenopausal women was as follows: AA 54.6%, AG 37.1%, GG 8.3%, T/T 17.5%, T/C 44.1%, C/C 38.4%; GG 52.4%, GC 38.0%, CC 9.6%, respectively. Significant differences in the distribution of A/A and A/G genotype among osteoporotic group were observed. No significant differences in the distribution of T950C and G1181C genotypes among three groups were observed. After adjusting for potential confounding factors such as age, BMI, and menopause duration, A163G polymorphism was significantly associated with BMD at the lumbar spine in normal and osteoporotic patients and BMD at the femur neck and wards triangle in normal patients, and G1181C polymorphism BMD at the trochanter in all groups and BMD at the femur neck in osteopenic and osteoporotic patients, and BMD at the wards triangle and trochanter in osteoporotic patients. But There was no relationship between T950C gene polymorphism, and BMD. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that osteoprotegerin gene polymorphisms may be an important contributor to the variation of BMD among postmenopausal Korean women.