Aims To evaluate the association between vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene polymorphisms and the risk of rickets among Asians.

Methods Eligible studies were included in our meta-analysis by searching PubMed, Embase, Cochrane and China National Knowledge Infrastructure databases according to a predefined criteria. A random effects model was used to calculate the combined ORs and its corresponding 95% CI.

Results 16 studies were recruited for the analysis of the association between VDR BsmI (rs1544410), TaqI (rs731236), FokI (rs2228570) and ApaI (rs7975232) gene polymorphisms and the risk of rickets among Asians, most of whom were from China. B allele/BB genotype was associated with the susceptibility of rickets (p=0.017 and 0.044, respectively), and bb genotype was associated with lower risk of rickets (p=0.033). F allele/FF genotype was associated with the susceptibility of rickets (p<10⁻⁴), and ff genotype was associated with lower risk of rickets (p<10⁻⁴). AA genotype was associated with the onset of rickets (p=0.044). No significant association was observed between TaqI polymorphism the risk of rickets. A allele/aa genotype was not associated with the risk of rickets. No evidence of publication bias was observed.

Conclusions B allele/BB genotype at the BsmI site, F allele/FF genotype at the FokI site and AA genotype at the ApaI site may be risk factors for the onset of rickets among Asians; bb genotype at the BsmI site and ff genotype at the FokI site may be protective factors against the risk of rickets among Asians.