VDR gene methylation as a molecular adaption to light exposure: Historic, recent and genetic influences.
Am J Hum Biol. 2017 Sep 10;29(5). doi: 10.1002/ajhb.23010
Note - this study looks at season on conception, others deal with season of birth, 9 months later
VitaminDWiki – Season of Birth category contains:
Season of birth is a good proxy for Vitamin D (for people far from the Equator)
Statistisically significant, but rarely greater than 20% change
Some health problems need Vitamin D in 2 or 3 trimesters, so are not associated with season
Perhaps some people in born in poor season will need more vitamin D all of their lives
Some Season of Birth studies
- Season of birth associated with many health problem (UK Biobank) – Nov 2020
- Preterm birth varies with season: 25 percent more likely if conception in autumn – Feb 2022
- Little sun in first trimester, 2.9 X more likely to have learning disabilities – June 2019
- UV at time of conception associated with Vitamin D Receptor activation 65 years later – Sept 2017
- Autoimmune Addison's Disease – increased risk if born in Dec or Jan – Nov 2016
- Schizophrenia increased 40 percent for Spring births after Danes stopped vitamin D fortification – April 2014
- Season of birth associated with Pneumonia (10 %) and Multiple Sclerosis (30 %) – May 2013
- Majority of Season of Birth health problems should vanish if take Vitamin D
100K monthly, or 50K bi-weekly, or 4K daily
- Health problems are related to birth month - June 2015 has the following
- Diseases correlated to month of birth – 2008 has the following
Download the PDF from Sci-Hub via VitaminDWiki
OBJECTIVES:
The vitamin D receptor (VDR) is a member of the nuclear receptor family of transcription factors. We examined whether degree of VDR gene methylation acts as a molecular adaptation to light exposure. We explored this in the context of photoperiod at conception, recent UV irradiance at 305 nm, and gene-latitude effects.
METHODS:
Eighty subjects were examined for VDR gene-CpG island methylation density. VDR gene variants were also examined by PCR-RFLP.
RESULTS:
Photoperiod at conception was significantly positively related to VDR methylation density, explaining 17% of the variance in methylation (r2 = 0.17; P = .001). Within this model, photoperiod at conception and plasma 25(OH)D independently predicted methylation density at the VDR-CpG island. Recent UV exposure at 305 nm led to a fivefold increase in mean methylation density (P = .02). Again, UV exposure and plasma 25(OH)D independently predicted methylation density at the VDR-CpG island. In the presence of the BsmI mutant allele, methylation density was increased (P = .01), and in the presence of the TaqI or FokI mutant allele, methylation density was decreased (P = .007 and .04 respectively). Multivariate modelling suggests plasma 25(OH)D, photoperiod at conception, recent solar irradiance, and VDR genotype combine as independent predictors of methylation at the VDR-CpG island, explaining 34% of the variance in methylation (R2 = 0.34, P < .0001).
CONCLUSIONS:
Duration of early-life light exposure and strength of recent irradiance, along with latitudinal genetic factors, influence degree of VDR gene methylation consistent with this epigenetic phenomenon being a molecular adaptation to variation in ambient light exposure. Findings contribute to our understanding of human biology.
Beckett EL1,2,3, Jones P1, Veysey M2,4, Duesing K3, Martin C1, Furst J5, Yates Z6, Jablonski NG7, Chaplin G7, Lucock M1.
1 School of Environmental & Life Sciences, University of Newcastle, PO Box 127, Brush Rd, Ourimbah, NSW, 2258, Australia.
2 Medicine and Public Health, University of Newcastle, PO Box 127, Brush Rd, Ourimbah, NSW, 2258, Australia.
3 Food and Nutrition Flagship, CSIRO, NSW, Australia.
4 Teaching & Research Unit, Central Coast Local Health District, PO Box 361, Gosford, NSW, 2250, Australia.
5 Maths & Physical Sciences, University of Newcastle, PO Box 127, Brush Rd, Ourimbah, NSW, 2258, Australia.
6 Biomedical Sciences & Pharmacy, University of Newcastle, PO Box 127, Brush Rd, Ourimbah, NSW, 2258, Australia.
7 Anthropology Department, The Pennsylvania State University, 409 Carpenter Building, University Park, Pennsylvania, 16802.