Abstract
Background: We have recently reported the role of environmental exposure in the ethnic diversity of bone mineral density (BMD). Potential genetic difference has not been adequately assessed. Purpose: To determine allele frequencies of EMD-affecting genes and their association with BMD in Africans. Methods: Allele frequencies at 18 polymorphic sites in 13 genes that affect BMD Asians and/or Caucasians were determined in 143 recent immigrants (55 men and 88 women, 18-51 years of age) from sob-Saharan Sudan to the United States. Genetic association studies were performed. Results. Among the 14 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), 10 were significantry different in adele frequency between Sudanese and Asians, and 10 between Sudanese and Caucasians. Only the osteocalcin gene was not significantly different in allele frequency among Sudanese, Asians and Caucasians. Allele frequencies in the TGFβ, COLIA1 and CSR genes were extremely low (