Genetic variation in the human vitamin D receptor is associated with muscle strength, fat mass and body weight in Swedish women

• Objective: Bone mineral density (BMD) is under strong genetic control and a number of candidategenes have been associated with BMD. Both muscle strength and body weight are considered to beimportant predictors of BMD but far less is known about the genes affecting muscle strength andfat mass. The purpose of this study was to investigate the poly adenosine (A) repeat and the BsmISNP in the vitamin D receptor (VDR) in relation to muscle strength and body composition in healthywomen. Design: A population-based study of 175 healthy women aged 20–39 years was used. Methods: The polymorphic regions in the VDR gene (the poly A repeat and the BsmI SNP) were amplifiedby PCR. Body mass measurements (fat mass, lean mass, body weight and body mass index) andmuscle strength (quadriceps, hamstring and grip strength) were evaluated. Results: Individuals with shorter poly A repeat, ss and/or absence of the linked BsmI restriction site(BB) have higher hamstring strength (ss vs LL, P ¼ 0.02), body weight (ss vs LL, P ¼ 0.049) andfat mass (ss vs LL, P ¼ 0.04) compared with women with a longer poly A repeat (LL) and/or thepresence of the linked BsmI restriction site (bb). Conclusions: Genetic variation in the VDR is correlated with muscle strength, fat mass and bodyweight in premenopausal women. Further functional studies on the poly A microsatellite areneeded to elucidate whether this is the functionally relevant locus or if the polymorphism is in linkagedisequilibrium with a functional variant in a closely situated gene further downstream of the VDR30UTR.

Publikations- och innehållstyp

ref (ämneskategori)

art (ämneskategori)