Polymorphisms in Genes Encoding VDR, CALCR and Antioxidant Enzymes as Predictors of Bone Tissue Condition in Young, Healthy Men

Int J Mol Sci. 2023 Feb 8;24(4):3373. doi: 10.3390/ijms24043373.

Abstract

The aim of the study was to assess significant predictors of bone mineral content (BMC) and bone mineral density (BMD) in a group of young, healthy men at the time of reaching peak bone mass. Regression analyses showed that age, BMI and practicing combat sports and team sports at a competitive level (trained vs. untrained group; TR vs. CON, respectively) were positive predictors of BMD/BMC values at various skeletal sites. In addition, genetic polymorphisms were among the predictors. In the whole population studied, at almost all measured skeletal sites, the SOD2 AG genotype proved to be a negative predictor of BMC, while the VDR FokI GG genotype was a negative predictor of BMD. In contrast, the CALCR AG genotype was a positive predictor of arm BMD. ANOVA analyses showed that, regarding SOD2 polymorphism, the TR group was responsible for the significant intergenotypic differences in BMC that were observed in the whole study population (i.e., lower BMC values of leg, trunk and whole body were observed in AG TR compared to AA TR). On the other hand, higher BMC at L1-L4 was observed in the SOD2 GG genotype of the TR group compared to in the same genotype of the CON group. For the FokI polymorphism, BMD at L1-L4 was higher in AG TR than in AG CON. In turn, the CALCR AA genotype in the TR group had higher arm BMD compared to the same genotype in the CON group. In conclusion, SOD2, VDR FokI and CALCR polymorphisms seem to affect the association of BMC/BMD values with training status. In general, at least within the VDR FokI and CALCR polymorphisms, less favorable genotypes in terms of BMD (i.e., FokI AG and CALCR AA) appear to be associated with a greater BMD response to sports training. This suggests that, in healthy men during the period of bone mass formation, sports training (combat and team sports) may attenuate the negative impact of genetic factors on bone tissue condition, possibly reducing the risk of osteoporosis in later age.

Keywords: GPx; SOD2; athletes; bone mineral content; bone mineral density; osteoporosis.

MeSH terms

  • Antioxidants*
  • Bone Density / genetics
  • Bone and Bones
  • Genotype
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Osteoporosis*
  • Polymorphism, Genetic
  • Receptors, Calcitriol / genetics

Substances

  • Antioxidants
  • Receptors, Calcitriol
  • VDR protein, human

Grants and funding

This study was conducted within research project no. DS 248 of the Faculty of Physical Education and Health in Biała Podlaska, the Józef Piłsudski University of Physical Education in Warsaw, and was supported by the Polish Ministry of Science and Higher Education. The experimental data were obtained at the Regional Centre of Research and Development of the Faculty of Physical Education and Health in Biała Podlaska, Poland (in the Therapy and Musculoskeletal System Diagnostics Laboratory, as well as the following laboratories: Physiological, Biochemical and Molecular Diagnosis).