Figure 1. Birth Weight and the Relationship between Lumbar-Spine Bone Mineral Density and Vitamin D Receptor Genotype in Elderly Men and Women.
Among persons in the lowest third of the birth-weight distribution, spine bone mineral density was significantly higher among persons of genotype BB than among persons of the Bb or bb genotype (P = 0.01) after adjustment for age, sex, and current weight. In contrast, in the highest third of the birth-weight distribution, spine bone mineral density was reduced among persons of genotype BB as compared with persons of the Bb or bb genotype (P = 0.04). A significant interaction was found between vitamin D receptor genotype and birth weight as determinants of bone mineral density (P = 0.02). Adapted from Dennison et al.24