Vitamin D receptor gene polymorphisms and osteoarthritis of the hand, hip, and knee: acase-control study in Japan.

Objective: To investigate the association between vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene polymorphisms andJapanese female patients with osteoarthritis (OA) of the hand, hip, and knee.
Methods: BsmI,ApaI, andTaqI restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLPs) of the VDR gene were analysed in 270Japanese female patients with radiographic OA of the hand, hip, tibiofemoral (TF) joint, andpatellofemoral (PF) joint, as well as in female controls.
Results: There was no significant association between the VDR gene RFLPs and OA of the hand, hip, TFjoint, PF joint, or polyarticular involvement. The previously detected preventive genotype of the VDRgene was uncommon in our test population.
Conclusion: The relative importance of VDR gene polymorphism in the development of OA may vary betweenethnic groups.