Objective  To investigate whether single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of estrogen receptor beta (ESR2) gene were correlated with bone mineral density (BMD) in postmenopausal Chinese women. Methods  Totally 140 postmenopausal women at the age of (54.58±5.85) who living in Chongqing for at least 10 years received BMD measuring in our depart

ment from March to October 2007. BMD was measured at the lumbar spine (L

2

to L

4

) and left hip (including the femoral neck

trochanter and Ward’s triangle) by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry. Three SNPs of ESR2 gene

including the T1057G and G1082A SNPs in the fifth exon and G1730A SNP in the eighth exon

were detected by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). Results  In all subjects

only VV genotype was detected for the 1057T locus in the fifth exon. The distribution of G1082A genotypes was RR (81.43%)

Rr(17.14%) and rr (1.43%). And of G1730A the genotypes were AA (87.86%) and Aa (12.14%)

while the genotype aa was absent. The distribution of G1082A and G1730A genotypes was in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (P0.05). After adjusting for age

weight

menopausal period and other influential factors for BMD

G1082A SNP was significantly associated with L

2

and L

4

BMD (P0.05)

but not associated with L

3

and femoral neck BMD (P0.05). G1730A SNP was significantly associated with the femoral neck BMD (P0.01)

but not associated with the lumbar spine BMD (P0.05). Conclusion  In postmenopausal women

r allele of G1082A SNP in the fifth exon of the ESR2 gene may be an independent risk factor of lower spine BMD

while a allele of G1730A SNP in the eighth exon may be an independent risk factor of lower femoral neck BMD.