Abstract: The polymorphism of vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene may be associated with bone density, osteoporosis and body height. In this review, the authors summarize the association of the four VDR single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) loci FokI, BsmI, ApaI, TaqI with bone density, osteoporosis and body height reported at home and abroad in recent years. And find that though each country′s report may be different, it′s valuable in the field of genetics, clinical endocrinology and metabolism, especially in the research area of body height in Forensic Medicine.

Key words: VDR gene, polymorphism, bone density, osteoporosis, body height