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Horm Metab Res 2009; 41(8): 635-640
DOI: 10.1055/s-0029-1216375
Humans, Clinical

© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Polymorphisms of the Vitamin D Receptor Gene and Stress Fractures

C. Chatzipapas 1 , S. Boikos 2 , G. I. Drosos 1 , K. Kazakos 1 , G. Tripsianis 3 , A. Serbis 2 , S. Stergiopoulos 2 , C. Tilkeridis 1 , D.-A. Verettas 1 , C. A. Stratakis 2
  • 1Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Medical School, Democritus University of Thrace, University General Hospital of Alexandroupolis, Alexandroupolis, Greece
  • 2Section on Endocrinology & Genetics (SEGEN)/DEB, NICHD, NIH Bethesda, Maryland, USA
  • 3Department of Medical Statistics, Medical School, Democritus University of Thrace, Alexandroupolis, Greece
Further Information

Publication History

received 17.12.2008

accepted 02.03.2009

Publication Date:
23 April 2009 (online)

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Abstract

Our aim was to evaluate the association between VDR polymorphisms and calcaneal Stiffness Index (SI) with stress fractures in a case control study including male military personnel. Thirty- two patients with stress fractures were matched with 32 uninjured healthy volunteers (controls), by gender, age, height, body weight, and level of physical activity. The two groups were genotyped for the FokI, BsmI, ApaI, and TaqI polymorphisms of the VDR gene with PCR-RFLP method. In addition, calcaneal SI was measured by heel quantitative ultrasound in both groups. Data were analyzed by chi-squared test and logistic regression analysis. The f allele was significantly more frequent in patients than in controls (p=0.013), while the B allele showed such a tendency without reaching statistical significance (p=0.052). Among the entire cohort, a 2.7-fold and a 2.0-fold increase in risk of stress fractures was associated with the f and B alleles (OR, 2.7, 95% CI, 1.2–5.9; p=0.014 and OR, 2.0, 95% CI, 1.0–4.1; p=0.053, respectively). No statistically significant association was found between the incidence of stress fractures and t or a alleles. Decreased T-scores were also associated with the presence of f and B alleles. Mean values of T-scores of SI were statistically significantly lower in patients than in controls (p=0.018). These results suggest that the FokI and BsmI polymorphisms of the VDR gene could be associated with increased risk of stress fractures among military personnel. Moreover, a low calcaneal SI could represent a measurable index of this increased risk.

Key words

Vit D receptor gene - polymorphism - stress fracture - calcaneal stiffness index

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Correspondence

C. A. StratakisMD, DSc 

Chief

Section on Endocrinology & Genetics (SEGEN), PDEGEN, NICHD

National Institutes of Health

Room 1-3330

10 Center Drive, MSC-1103

Bethesda

20892 MD

USA

Phone: +1/301/496 46 86

Fax: +1/301/402 05 74

Email: stratakc@mail.nih.gov

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