Vitamin D linked to genes for cancer and autoimmune diseases

August 26, 2010 in Nutrition Topics in the News

Vitamin D linked to genes for cancer and autoimmune diseases
British scientists have found that vitamin D influences more than 200 genes, including ones related to cancer and autoimmune diseases like multiple sclerosis, a discovery that shows how serious vitamin D deficiency can be.

It's estimated that 2 out of 3 Canadians have less of the nutrient than the latest research suggests is necessary for proper health and disease prevention.

Researchers note that their study shows quite dramatically the wide-ranging influence that vitamin D exerts over health, including how it affects DNA through something called the vitamin D receptor (VDR), which binds to specific locations of the human genome. Researchers mapped out these points and identified more than 200 genes that it directly influences.



Worldwide, an estimated one billion people are deficient in vitamin D.
These findings were published in the journal Genome Research.

Currently, the Canadian Cancer Society recommends Adults living in Canada consider taking Vitamin D supplementation of 1,000 international units (IU) a day during the fall and winter.

Adults at higher risk of having lower Vitamin D levels should consider taking Vitamin D supplementation of 1,000 IU/day all year round. This includes people who are older, dark skinned or wear clothing that covers most of their body.
