Family members with mutation of LRP6 in humans were shown to have both early-onset cardiovascular diseases and severe osteoporosis complicated by high serum low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels, hypertension, and impaired glucose tolerance, suggesting that these components of the metabolic syndrome could cause bone fragility, as well as atherosclerosis (9). The gene discussed is LRP6; the disease is osteoporosis.