Among multiple factors influencing osteoporosis,genetic variations involved in bone-mineralmetabolism can affect risks predisposing to the diseaseonset. Here, we studied single-nucleotide polymorphisms(SNPs) in the pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC)gene for possible association with bone mineral density(BMD) among 384 adult Japanese women and observedsignificant correlation between adjusted BMD and threeSNPs in the promoter region (r>0.14, p<0.01). Themost significant correlation was observed for ?2353G/A(r=?0.16, p=0.002); homozygous carriers of the major(G) allele had the highest BMD (0.405±0.054 g/cm2)while heterozygous carriers were intermediate(0.390±0.053 g/cm2) and homozygous A-allele carriershad the lowest BMDs (0.369±0.048 g/cm2). Althoughno association was detected between these SNPs andbody weight or body mass index (BMI), significantassociation was detected between the ?2313A/C genotypeand plasma total cholesterol level (r=?0.12,p=0.019). We propose that POMC is among the likelysusceptibility genes for osteoporosis and may also beinvolved in dyslipidemia.