Bone mineral density, carotid artery intima-media thickness, and Klotho gene polymorphism in postmenopausal women

To evaluate the relationships between F352V polymorphism of Klotho gene, bone mineral density (BMD), and intima-media thickness (IMT) of the common carotid artery in postmenopausal women. Spine and hip BMD was assessed by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), and IMT was measured by ultrasonography in 184 postmenopausal women. The genotyping of the Klotho gene was performed by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism. Genotype frequencies were 81.5% for the homozygous wild type FF and 18.5% for the combined FV and VV genotypes. There were no significant differences in BMD at any site of measurement and mean carotid artery IMT across Klotho genotypes. In regression analysis, femoral neck BMD, but not total hip or lumbar spine BMD, was negatively associated with mean carotid IMT (p = 0.04). Patients with low femoral neck BMD had a significantly higher prevalence of carotid artery plaques as compared to those with normal BMD (p = 0.01). The F352V polymorphism in the Klotho gene does not have a significant influence on bone mass and carotid atherosclerosis in postmenopausal women. Femoral neck BMD is associated with mean carotid IMT, suggesting that low bone mass may identify postmenopausal women at risk of atherosclerotic CVD.