Abstract
ObjectiveThe current study was conducted to determine whether peak bone mineral density (BMD) and obesity phenotypes are associated with certain LGR4 gene polymorphisms found in Chinese nuclear families with female children.MethodsA total of 22 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) located in and around the LGR4 gene were identified in 1,300 subjects who were members of 390 Chinese nuclear families with female children. Then, BMD readings of the femoral neck, total hip, and lumbar spine as well as measurements of the total lean mass (TLM), total fat mass (TFM), and trunk fat mass were obtained via dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. The quantitative transmission disequilibrium test was used to analyze the associations between specific SNPs and LGR4 haplotypes and peak BMD as well as between LGR4 haplotypes and TLM, percent lean mass, TFM, percent fat mass, trunk fat mass, and body mass index (BMI).ResultsHere, rs7936621 was significantly associated with the BMD values for the total hip and lumbar spine, while rs10835171 and rs6484295 were associated with the trunk fat mass and BMI, respectively. Regarding the haplotypes, we found significant associations between GAA in block 2 and trunk fat mass and BMI, between AGCGT in block 3 and total hip BMD, between TGCTCC in block 5 and femoral neck BMD, and between TACTTC in block 5 and both lumbar spine and femoral neck BMD (all P-values < 0.05).ConclusionGenetic variations of the LGR4 gene are related to peak BMD, BMI, and trunk fat mass.
Highlights
Osteoporosis and obesity are common occurrences during the aging process, and both are subject to environmental and genetic influences
bone mineral density (BMD) readings of the femoral neck, total hip, and lumbar spine as well as measurements of the total lean mass (TLM), total fat mass (TFM), and trunk fat mass were obtained via dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry
The quantitative transmission disequilibrium test was used to analyze the associations between specific SNPs and LGR4 haplotypes and peak BMD as well as between LGR4 haplotypes and TLM, percent lean mass, TFM, percent fat mass, trunk fat mass, and body mass index (BMI)
Summary
Osteoporosis and obesity are common occurrences during the aging process, and both are subject to environmental and genetic influences. Individuals with osteoporosis have a low bone mineral density (BMD) and an increased risk of fracture due to degradation of their bone microstructure. It is currently estimated that >200 million people have osteoporosis worldwide. In the United States, osteoporosis is an underlying cause of 1.3 million fractures, which cost $10 billion per year to repair [1]. While body mass index (BMI) is the most commonly used index of obesity, it does not directly measure the total amount of body fat. Studies of twins and families in several populations have shown that BMI is strongly influenced by genetics and is 40%–70% inheritable [6]
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