Vitamin D receptor gene and aggrecan gene polymorphisms and the risk of intervertebral disc degeneration - a meta-analysis.

ABSTRACT:

Background

A series of studies have been conducted to evaluate the associations between vitamin D receptor (VDR) and aggrecan variable numbers of tandem repeat (VNTR) polymorphisms and the risk of intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD), but produced conflicting results.

Objective

we performed a meta-analysis to address a more accurate estimation of the associations between the above gene polymorphisms and the risk of IDD.

Methods

A comprehensive literature search was conducted to identify all the relevant studies. The fixed or random effect model was selected based on the heterogeneity test among studies evaluated using the I(2). Publication bias was estimated using Begg's funnel plots and Egger's regression test.

Results

A total of 9, 5, 3, and 7 studies were

SUBMITTER: Xu G 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3509154 | biostudies-literature | 2012

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature