Common genetic variants linked to arthritis may also play a role in human height, a new study reports, published on-line in Nature Genetics.
The international study co-led by the University of Michigan observed a connection between decreased height and increased risk of osteoarthritis, the most common form of arthritis. Researchers speculate that both extremes of height may be associated with osteoarthritis for different reasons. Shorter bones and/or less cartilage may render the joints more susceptible to damage, while longer bones may produce greater levels of damaging stress on the joints.
Many genes are involved in height but very few in osteoarthritis.
The genomes …read more