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Vitamin D's Role Highlighted in Genetic Research

December 2010

Vitamin D has a significant effect on at least 229 genes, according to United Kingdom and Canadian researchers. The research, published in Genome Research, found 2,776 "binding sites" where vitamin D attached to the genome. The researchers said the findings backed the role of vitamin D in maintaining health in a world where one billion people are estimated to be vitamin D deficient due to either diet or lack of sunlight. "Vitamin D supplements during pregnancy and the early years could have a beneficial effect on a child’s health in later life. Some countries such as France have instituted this as a routine public health measure," said lead author Dr. Sreeram Ramagopalan from the Wellcome Trust Centre for Human Genetics. Dr. Ramagopalan said the identification of the 2,776 vitamin D binding sites illustrates the importance of vitamin D in gene expression.

Genome Research Published online ahead of print.

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