Abstract
BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Low bone mineral density increases the risk of bone fractures, and this condition is especially common in postmenopausal women. Genetic factors significantly influence bone mineral density. This meta-analysis examined the relationship between vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene polymorphisms (BsmI, ApaI, and TaqI) and bone mineral density in postmenopausal women in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. METHODS: The PubMed, Embase, Scopus, and Web of Science databases were searched from inception to March 2024 for case-control studies on VDR BsmI, ApaI, and TaqI polymorphisms and their relationship with low bone density. Associations with low bone mineral density were tested with respect to different genetic models (dominant, recessive, allelic) using RevMan v5.3. RESULTS: The meta-analysis included seven studies for BsmI, six for ApaI, and seven for TaqI, representing 704/689 cases/controls for BsmI, 914/711 for ApaI, and 974/895 for TaqI. No significant association was found between VDR polymorphisms and low bone mineral density in postmenopausal women, except in the dominant model (CC + CG vs. GG) for the BsmI variant (OR = 1.27, 95% CI: 1.01-1.59, p = 0.04). CONCLUSIONS: We found a modest association between the BsmI polymorphism and increased risk of low bone mineral density (BMD) in postmenopausal women from the MENA region, suggesting its potential as a biomarker. No associations were observed for ApaI or TaqI. These findings highlight the complex genetic-environmental interactions influencing BMD.