Susceptibility to bone damage

A method of determining the susceptibility of a human subject to non-vertebral fractures, comprising determining which allele(s) of polymorphisms in methyltetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) and collagen Iα1 are present in the subject, wherein the presence of the C677T MTHFR polymorphism and a COLIA1 polymorphism are indicative of an increased susceptibility of non-vertebral fractures.

A method for preventing or reducing the susceptibility of non-vertebral fracture in a human subject, comprising the steps of:

• (a) determining that the subject has an increased susceptibility to non-vertebral fracture, wherein the presence of a C677T MTHFR polymorphism and a COLIA1 polymorphism are indicative of an increased susceptibility to non-vertebral fracture;
• and
• (b) prescribing or administering folic acid or folate to the subject when said polymorphisms are present to prevent or reduce said susceptibility.

A method for determining the susceptibility of a living human subject to non vertebral fracture, comprising using a kit comprising one or more nucleic acid primer molecules for amplification of a portion of the MTHFR and the collagen Iα1 gene from said subject to determine whether the C677T MTHFR polymorphism and a COLIA1 polymorphism are present, and determining whether said polymorphisms are present in said subject;

• wherein the presence of the C677T MTHFR polymorphism and the COLIA1 polymorphism are indicative of an increased susceptibility of non-vertebral fracture.