Introduction: Osteoporosis is a multifactorial disease characterized by a low bone mineral density (BMD). Osteoporosis and the occurrence of fractures in postmenopausal women have been associated to the TaqI polymorphism in the vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene.
Objective: To analyze the association of the different genotypes of TaqI polymorphism of the VDR gene with BMD in young Mexican women.
Methods: Dual X-ray absorptiometry was carried out in 150 women aged 19 to 29 years in order to determine their total bone mineral density (tBMD) and dual BMD of the femur (dfBMD). DNA was extracted from peripheral blood to determine the genotype of the TaqI polymorphism in the VDR gene. The data obtained were analyzed by simple linear regression and ANOVA.
Results: Mean tBMD was 1.096 ± 0.064 mean dfBMD was 0.960 ± 0.107 g/cm². The frequency of the TaqI polymorphisms was 57% (TT), 37% (Tt) and 6% (tt), the frequency of the alleles was 75% (T) and 25% (t). Ths statistical analysis showed a lack of association between BMD and the genotypes of TaqI polymorphism in the VDR gene.
Discussion and conclusions: These results suggest that may exist factors other than the TaqI polymorphism in the VDR gene contributing to BMD in young women from Northern Mexico.