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Vitamin D Receptor Gene Polymorphism Is Associated with Birth Height, Growth to Adolescence, and Adult Stature in Healthy Caucasian Men: A Cross-Sectional and Longitudinal Study¹

Sports Medicine (M.L., R.L., P.N.), Department of Surgical and Perioperative Sciences, Department of Geriatric Medicine (P.N.), and Department of Musculosceletal Research (R.L.), National Institute for Working Life, Umeå University, 901 85 Umeå, Sweden

Address correspondence and requests for reprints to: Mattias Lorentzon, M.Sc., Sports Medicine, Department of Surgical and Perioperative Sciences, Umeå University, 901 85 Umeå, Sweden.

Vitamin D receptor (VDR) polymorphism has been associated with bone mineral density (BMD), but recent data indicate association to parameters of body constitution and growth. We investigated VDR gene polymorphism, defined by BsmI and TaqI, in 90 healthy Caucasian males and any relation with parameters of body constitution at birth, and to parameters of body constitution, BMD and bone area, at age 16.9 ± 0.3 yr (mean ± SD) and at age 19.2 ± 0.7. Using PCR and the restriction enzyme BsmI and TaqI, the allelic variants BB, Bb, and bb, and TT, Tt, and tt were identified. Height (cm) and weight (kg) were measured using standardized equipment, and BMD of the total body, lumbar spine, and femoral neck, and bone area (cm²) of the total body, humerus, femur was measured using dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry. BsmI and TaqI genotypes were related in 89 of the 90 cases; hence, the same associations were found for both genotypes. Boys with the BB genotype were shorter at birth (P = 0.01) and grew less from birth to age 16.9 ± 0.3 (P = 0.01) than their Bb and bb counterparts. Both during puberty (age 16.9 ± 0.3) and after puberty (age 19.3 ± 0.7), the BB boys were shorter (P = 0.005–0.008) and had lower bone area of the humerus, femur, and total body (P < 0.05) than the Bb and bb boys. The allelic variants were not related to BMD at any site. A prediction model including parental height, birth height, birth weight, and VDR alleles could predict up to 39% of the total variation in adult height in our population. The VDR allelic variants alone contributed to 8% of the total variation.

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