Association of MTHFR C677T polymorphism with bone mineral density of osteoporosis in postmenopausal Thai women.

Background: Osteoporosis and osteopenia is rising with the increase in numbers of postmenopausal women. Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR), a homocysteine catabolizing enzyme, is involved in the regulation of bone mineral density (BMD). The association between MTHFR C677T polymorphism with osteoporosis in postmenopausal Thai women is hitherto unclear.

Objective: To investigate the association between MTHFR C677T and BMD in postmenopausal Thai women.

Methods: The study subjects consisted of 346 postmenopausal Thai women volunteers. Standard dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) was used for measurement of BMD T-score. Restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis was used for measurement of MTHFR C677T polymorphism.

Results: In the evaluation of 346 postmenopausal Thai women heterozygous (CT) genotype had a risk of osteopenia than normal control (odds ratio (OR) = 5.66, p < 0.001). BMD T-scores at each bone position revealed that heterozygous (CT) genotype had increased risk of osteopenic bones than normal controls at lumbar spines 1, 2, and 4 (OR = 2.48, p < 0.001, OR = 1.98, p = 0.008 and OR = 1.83, p = 0.016 respectively), ward's triangle (OR = 2.08, p = 0.008), and head of radius (OR = 2.95, p = 0.008).

Conclusions: These results indicate the possibility of using MTHFR C677T polymorphism to identify postmenopausal Thai women at high risk of osteopenia.