AIM: To explore the association of single nucleotide polymorphisms of promoter G~ -597 -A, G~ -572 -C, G~ -174 -C and T~ 15 -A, C~ 132 -T in exon 5 of interleukin 6 and lumbar intervebral disc disease. METHODS: The single nucleotide polymorphisms of interleukin 6 gene, including polymorphisms of G~ -597 -A, G~ -572 -C in promoter, G~ -174 -C and T~ 15 -A, C~ 132 -T in exon 5 were analyzed by the polymerase chain reaction and sequencing methods in 81 cases with lumbar intervebral disc disease and 101 healthy controls. The association of single nucleotide polymorphisms of interleukin 6 gene with lumbar intervebral disc disease in two groups was measured. The association of single nucleotide polymorphisms of interleukin 6 gene with lumbar intervebral disc degeneration in those younger than 45-year-old were also measured. RESULTS: The G~ -572 -C polymorphism of interleukin 6 gene was observed, but no single nucleotide polymorphism of G~ -597 -A, G~ -174 -C in promoter and T~ 15 -A, C~ 132 -T in exon 5 in two groups was detected. There was no difference between the distribution of the G~ -572 -C polymorphism of interleukin 6 gene in two groups. In those younger than 45-year-old the association of the single nucleotide polymorphism of interlukin-6 gene and lumbar intervebral disc degeneration was not significant. CONCLUSION: There is G~ -572 -C polymorphism in Chinese. No relation between G~ -572 -C polymorphism of interleukin 6 with lumbar intervebral disc disease and lumbar intervebral disc degeneration was observed.