• So Yeon Kim, Hyun Hee Kim, Chung Mo Nam, Hyeon Chang Kim, Il Suh, and Byung Yong Kang.
• Department of Health and Social Welfare, Sahmyook Health College, Sahmyook University, Seoul, Korea.
• Med Princ Pract. 2010 Jan 1; 19 (3): 200205200-5.

ObjectiveThe purpose of this study was to investigate the association between two genetic polymorphisms (PvuII and XbaI restriction fragment length polymorphisms, RFLPs) of the estrogen receptor-alpha (ER1) gene and the quantitative ultrasound (QUS) parameters at the calcaneus.Subjects And MethodsTwo hundred and sixty-six Korean vegetarian men, mean age 50.9+/-12.0 years (range 26-80), were studied. Polymorphisms at the ER1 gene sites and the cross-sectional associates of genetic factors with calcaneal QUS parameters including broadband ultrasound attenuation (BUA) and the speed of sound (SOS) were analyzed by RFLPs using polymerase chain reaction.ResultsThe distribution of PvuII and XbaI RFLPs in the ER1 gene was as follows: PP 11.6%, Pp 47.2%, pp 41.2%, XX 1.2%, Xx 24.4% and xx 74.4%. After adjusting for potential confounding factors such as age and body mass index, two genetic polymorphisms of the ER1 gene were independently associated with BUA, SOS and stiffness index at the calcaneus of our subjects. The QUS measurements of the subjects with the xx genotype were higher than those of the subjects with an Xx genotype, while the QUS measurements of the subjects with a Pp genotype were significantly lower than those of the subjects with PP or pp genotypes (p<0.05).ConclusionThe results suggest that the PvuII and XbaI RFLPs of the ER1 gene may be genetic factors that affect QUS at the calcaneus.Copyright (c) 2010 S. Karger AG, Basel.

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