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Exp Clin Endocrinol Diabetes 2012; 120(09): 517-523
DOI: 10.1055/s-0032-1321808
Article
© J. A. Barth Verlag in Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Osteometabolic and Osteogenetic Pattern of Turkish Immigrants in Germany

I. H. Tarner   *
1   Department of Internal Medicine and Rheumatology, Justus-Liebig-University Giessen, Department of Rheumatology, Clinical Immunology, Osteology and Physical Medicine, Kerckhoff-Klinik, Bad Nauheim, Germany
,
M. Z. Erkal   *
2   Department of Cardiology, Kerckhoff-Klinik, Bad Nauheim, Germany
,
B. M. Obermayer-Pietsch
3   Division of Endocrinology and Nuclear Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
,
L. C. Hofbauer
4   Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolic Bone Disease, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Dresden, Dresden, Germany
,
S. Bergmann
5   Department of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, University of Dresden, Dresden, Germany
,
C. Goettsch
4   Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolic Bone Disease, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Dresden, Dresden, Germany
,
K. Madlener
6   Department of Hemostasiology and Transfusion Medicine, Kerckhoff-Klinik, Bad Nauheim, Germany
,
U. Müller-Ladner
1   Department of Internal Medicine and Rheumatology, Justus-Liebig-University Giessen, Department of Rheumatology, Clinical Immunology, Osteology and Physical Medicine, Kerckhoff-Klinik, Bad Nauheim, Germany
,
U. Lange
1   Department of Internal Medicine and Rheumatology, Justus-Liebig-University Giessen, Department of Rheumatology, Clinical Immunology, Osteology and Physical Medicine, Kerckhoff-Klinik, Bad Nauheim, Germany
7   Professorship of Rheumatology, Osteology and Physical Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Justus-Liebig-University Giessen, Department of Rheumatology, Clinical Immunology, Osteology and Physical Medicine, Kerckhoff-Klinik, Bad Nauheim, Germany
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

received 25 April 2012
first decision 25 April 2012

accepted 28 June 2012

Publication Date:
06 September 2012 (online)

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Abstract

Introduction:

The etiology of osteoporosis comprises environmental and genetic factors. This study investigated vitamin D deficiency and specific genetic alterations of bone metabolism in a group of 183 Turkish immigrants in Germany in comparison with 46 age and sex matched healthy German controls (females in both groups were pre-menopausal).

Methods:

Bone mineral density (BMD) was measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Serum levels of osteologic parameters were determined after overnight fasting. Polymorphisms of the vitamin D receptor (VDR) and lactase genes were genotyped using genomic DNA from peripheral leukocytes. Statistical analysis comprised student’s t-test, Mann-Whitney rank sum test, Chi-square analysis and Fisher’s exact test.

Results:

Severe 25-OH D3 hypovitaminosis (83.1%) and elevated parathyroid hormone (82%) were common among immigrants. Osteoporosis but not osteopenia was more prevalent in immigrants. Among immigrants with osteoporosis, TRAP5b was elevated in 26.7%, and β-crosslaps in 13.3%. Only the FokI FF VDR-gene-polymorphism was significantly more prevalent among immigrants. In contrast, Ff-genotyped Turkish women exhibited significantly decreased BMD. Lactase polymorphisms were significantly more common among immigrants (84.2% vs. 30.4%) and the CC genotype was commonly associated with reduced BMD (41.6%) but rarely osteoporosis (8.4%).

Conclusions:

Vitamin D deficiency, secondary hyperparathyroidism and osteoporosis are common among Turkish immigrants in Germany. Thus, in this population osteologic parameters and BMD should be analyzed and deficiencies be treated. Specifically, the VDR gene polymorphism FokI Ff is of clinical value in identifying females at risk of osteoporosis. In contrast, LCT polymorphisms, though common, do not appear to be a risk factor.

Key words

bone mineral density - osteoporosis - vitamin D deficiency - vitamin D receptor polymorphism - lactase polymorphism
*

*  I. H. Tarner and M. Z. Erkal contributed equally to this study.


 

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