BACKGROUND: Vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene shows restriction fragment length polymorphism with incision enzyme Bsm Ⅰ ,Apa Ⅰ ,Taq Ⅰ ,which is related to bone mineral density (BMD).However, it is unclear that the relationship between VDR gene (Bsm Ⅰ ) polymorphisms and BMD,osteoporosis.OBJECTIVE: To analyze the distribution regularity of vitamin D receptor gene polymorphism related to BMD in postmenopausal women of Han,Uygur, Kazak and Mongoloid nationality in China. DESIGN: controlled observation.SETTING: Institute of Gerontology,General Hospital of Chinese PLA.PARTICIPANTS: Totally 179 women of Han,who were taking physical examination in General Hospital of Chinese PLA from January 2002 to December 2003, at the average age of (59±3) years,were selected. A total number of 122 women of Uygur with average age of 56.49 years; 63 women of Kazak with average age of (55±3) years; and 112 women of Mongoloid with average age of (57±3) years,who were all taking physical examination in department of geriatrics, Urumqi General Hospital of Lanzhou Military Area Command of Chinese PLA from January 2001 to December 2003.All of them were informed consent.METHODS: VDR genotypes(Bsm Ⅰ ) were defined with polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism,so as to analyze distribution of Vitamin-D receptor gene (Bsm Ⅰ )polymorphisms of postmenopausal women in Han,Uygur, Kazak,Mongoloid nationality,and compared with the data of USA,Australia,France,Japan,Korea. Enumeration data were compared with Chi-square test.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: VDR (Bsm Ⅰ ) polymorphisms in healthy postmenopausal women from Han, Uygur, Kazak, Mongoloid populations in China, which were compared with the data of USA, Australia,France, Japan, Korea.RESULTS: For women of Han, Uygur, Kazak and Mongoloid nationality,the BB genotypes accounted for 0, 4.1%, 6.35% and 4.46%, the bb genotypes accounted for 90.5%, 69.67%, 38.1% and 50% respectively. There was a significant difference between women of Han, Uygur, Kazak, and Mongoloid nationality(P ＜ 0.01). There was insignificant difference in comparation of distribtuion of VDR genotype between Kazak nationality and the west races, but it was significantly different to that in Japan,Korea races.CONCLUSION:VDR genotype polymorphisms is characterized by obvious racial diversify in postmenopausal women of Han,Uygur, Kazak,Mongoloid populations in China;Distribution of VDR gene frequency of Kazak population is similar with the west race ,but is different to Japanese and Korea's race.