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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Boston, Massachusetts » Jean Mayer Human Nutrition Research Center On Aging » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #250628
Title: Associations of APOE gene polymorphisms with bone mineral density and fracture risk: a meta-analysis

Author
item INGA, PETER - Mount Sinai School Of Medicine
item CROSIER, MICHAEL - Framingham State College
item YOSHIDA, MAKIKO - Jean Mayer Human Nutrition Research Center On Aging At Tufts University
item BOOTH, SARAH - Jean Mayer Human Nutrition Research Center On Aging At Tufts University
item CUPPLES, L. ADRIENNE - Boston University School Of Public Health
item DAWSON-HUGHES, BESS - Jean Mayer Human Nutrition Research Center On Aging At Tufts University
item KARASIK, DAVID - Harvard Medical School
item KIEL, DOUGLAS - Harvard Medical School
item LU, ZHAOHUI - Mount Sinai School Of Medicine
item ORDOVAS, JOSE - Jean Mayer Human Nutrition Research Center On Aging At Tufts University
item TRIKALINOS, THOMAS - Tufts - New England Medical Center

Submitted to: Osteoporosis International
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/3/2010
Publication Date: 6/9/2010
Citation: Inga, P., Crosier, M.D., Yoshida, M., Booth, S.L., Cupples, L., Dawson-Hughes, B., Karasik, D., Kiel, D.P., Lu, Z., Ordovas, J.M., Trikalinos, T.A. 2010. Associations of APOE gene polymorphisms with bone mineral density and fracture risk: a meta-analysis. Osteoporosis International. 198:1311-1315.

Interpretive Summary: Apolipoprotein E (APOE) has been studied for its potential role in osteoporosis risk. It is hypothesized that genetic variation in APOE may modulate bone mineral density (BMD) through its effects on lipoproteins and vitamin K transport. To determine the association of the APOE-E4 gene polymorphism with BMD and fracture risk, we conducted a meta-analysis that combined newly-analyzed individual data from two community-based cohorts, the Framingham Offspring Study and the Vitamin K Clinical Trial, with fifteen eligible published reports. BMD measurements of the hip and lumbar spine and risk of vertebral, hip and other fractures were studied in men and women. Those individuals with the APOE-E4 gene polymorphism tended to have lower BMD at one hip site and the lumbar spine when compared to those without this gene polymorphism. This was predominantly evident among women. However, these findings were not consistent across all studies, and the associations were very weak when all studies were combined in the meta-analysis. There were no consistent associations of APOE4 genotype with BMD at other skeletal sites or with fracture risk. Based on these findings, there is insufficient evidence to support a strong and consistent association of the APOE genotype with BMD and fracture incidence.

Technical Abstract: Apolipoprotein E (APOE) has been studied for its potential role in osteoporosis risk. It is hypothesized that genetic variation at common APOE loci, known as E2, E3, and E4, may modulate bone mineral density (BMD) through its effects on lipoproteins and vitamin K transport. To determine the association of the APOE-E4 gene polymorphism with bone-related phenotypes, we conducted a meta-analysis that combined newly-analyzed individual data from two community-based cohorts, the Framingham Offspring Study (N=1,495) and the Vitamin K Clinical Trial (N=377), with fifteen eligible published reports. Bone phenotypes included BMD measurements of the hip (total hip and trochanteric and femoral neck sites) and lumbar spine (between the L2 and L4 vertebrae) and prevalence or incidence of vertebral, hip and other fractures. In sex-pooled analyses, APOE4 carriers had a 0.018 g/cm2 lower weighted mean trochanteric BMD than non carriers (p=0.0002) with no evidence for between-study heterogeneity. A significant association was also detected with lumbar spine BMD (p=0.006); however, inter-study heterogeneity was observed. Associations with lumbar spine and trochanteric BMD were observed predominantly in women and became less significant in meta-regression (p=0.055 and 0.01, respectively). There were no consistent associations of APOE4 genotype with BMD at other skeletal sites or with fracture risk. Based on these findings, there is insufficient evidence to support a strong and consistent association of the APOE genotype with BMD and fracture incidence.