Associations of patella lead with polymorphisms in the vitamin D receptor, delta-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase and endothelial nitric oxide synthase genes.

A cross-sectional analysis was performed to evaluate associations of polymorphisms in the vitamin D receptor (VDR), delta-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase (ALAD), and endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) genes with patella lead concentrations in 652 lead workers in the Republic of Korea. There was a wide range of patella lead (from below detection limit to 946 microg Pb/g bone mineral), with a mean (standard deviation) of 75.2 (101.0). There were no associations of ALAD or eNOS genotypes with patella lead, but workers with the VDR B allele had significantly (P value < 0.05) higher patella lead (on average, 25% or approximately 6.6 microg Pb/g bone mineral) than lead workers with the VDR bb genotype. There was evidence that the relation between age and patella lead was modified by both the VDR and eNOS genotypes.