OBJECTIVE: To investigate the association of vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene 
polymorphisms with abnormal growth pattern and low bone mass in adolescent 
idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) patients.
METHODS: Peripheral blood samples were obtained from 164 female patients with 
AIS, aged 14.4 +/- 2 (9 - 20), and 122 age-matched healthy girls. Polymerase 
chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) technique was 
used to detect the VDR gene distributions.
RESULTS: The frequency of Bb genotype was significantly higher in the AIS 
patients than in the controls (P < 0.01). The frequency of B alleles of the AIS 
patients was significantly higher than that of the controls (P < 0.01). In AIS 
patients, the expression rate of Aa genotype of the AIS patients with the body 
mass index (BMI) > or = 18 kg/m(2) was significantly higher than those with the 
BMI < 18 kg/m(2) (P < 0.05), and the expression rate of Bb genotype of the AIS 
patients with the BMI < 18 kg/m(2) and arm span < 160 cm was significantly 
higher than that of the AIS patients with the BMI > or = 18 kg/m(2) and arm span 
> or = 160 cm (P < 0.05).
CONCLUSION: The BsmI site polymorphism of vitamin D receptor gene may be 
associated with abnormal growth pattern and low bone mass in girls with AIS.