The Relation between Vitamin D Receptor Gene Polymorphism and the Increased Risk of Osteoporosis

Abstract

Osteoporosis is a condition which will affect one in three women, and one in 12 men, at some stage in their lives. Interest in the condition has grown exponentially over the last 10 years due to a number of factors, including the development of a reliable and reproducible tool for the measurement of bone mineral density in the form of DEXA scanning. This has allowed studies to be undertaken which have improved our understanding of the factors associated with osteoporosis along with allowing studies to evaluate if treatments are effective.

Osteoporosis is a prevalent metabolic bone disease characterized by low bone mass and a resultant increased susceptibility to fracture. The risk of fracture increases by as much as 2.5- to 3.0-fold with each standard deviation (SD) reduction in bone mass.

In the understanding of osteoporosis one must understand the structure and function of bone. The three main hormones which affect mineral metabolism: vitamin D, parathyroid hormone and calcitonin,which act together to achieve biochemical and endocrinal functions.

Osteoporosis is a highly preventable disease. The most common type of osteoporosis is that found in the post-menopausal female. Bone building at a young age through diet and exercise can ensure that bones have the strength to withstand changes that may occur later in life.

Bone density is known to have strong genetic determinants. Thus, the identification of the genes that mediate these heritable effects could lead to a better understanding of the pathogenesis of osteoporosis.