Objective: To investigate the possible relationship between bone mineral density (BMD) and polymorphism of the estrogen receptor (ER) gene in Chinese healthy postmenopausal women.
Methods: 237 unrelated healthy postmenopausal women were selected for bone mineral density determination with Dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) and the polymorphism of estrogen receptor gene were detected with polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP).
Results: It is shown that the distribution of ER genotype in the ER gene was as follows: PP 19.8%, Pp 44.3% and pp 35.9% respectively. ANOVA analysis indicated that BMD of trochanter major (Troch) was associated with polymorphism of ER gene (P = 0.0106). Multiple stepwise regression analysis showed that the relationship between polymorphism of ER gene and BMD of Troch (P = 0.0548) and lumbar vertebra 2 approximately 4 (P = 0.0998) was not statistically significant.
Conclusion: It is suggested that there is a significant relationship between polymorphism of ER gene and Troch BMD in healthy postmenopausal women. p allele may be a protective factor for bone mass loss.