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Vitamin D: Beyond Metabolism.

Mark Lucock1, Patrice Jones2, Charlotte Martin2

  • 1University of Newcastle, Ourimbah, New South Wales, Australia Mark.Lucock@newcastle.edu.au.

Journal of Evidence-Based Complementary & Alternative Medicine
|April 17, 2015
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

This review explores how vitamin D and its gene (VDR) interact with light, influencing circadian rhythms, skin pigmentation evolution, and human health across the lifespan.

Keywords:
UVVDR genefolatemelanizationvitamin D

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Area of Science:

  • Human evolutionary biology
  • Nutritional science
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Growing interest in vitamin D and the Vitamin D Receptor (VDR) gene.
  • Exploring roles beyond calcium homeostasis, including evolutionary processes.
  • Investigating vitamin D's interaction with light and its broader implications.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the multifaceted roles of vitamin D, extending beyond classic biochemistry.
  • To examine the influence of vitamin D on circadian rhythm and skin pigmentation evolution.
  • To explore the relationship between vitamin D, folate, and VDR gene polymorphisms in human adaptation.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of existing research on vitamin D, VDR gene, and evolution.
  • Analysis of the interaction between light, vitamin D, and biological processes.
  • Examination of nutrient-nutrient relationships, specifically vitamin D and folate.
  • Investigation of VDR gene polymorphisms and their latitudinal distribution.

Main Results:

  • Vitamin D's influence on circadian rhythm and its potential role in skin pigmentation evolution.
  • The VDR gene as a factor in the evolutionary selection of skin depigmentation at higher latitudes.
  • Evidence of latitudinal gradients in VDR allele prevalence supporting evolutionary adaptation.
  • The nutrient-nutrient interaction between vitamin D and folate is explored.

Conclusions:

  • Vitamin D and light interact in complex ways, impacting human health and evolution.
  • The VDR gene and its polymorphisms are linked to adaptations in human populations.
  • New evo-devo concepts connect light-sensitive vitamins to human phenotype and health.
  • Understanding these interactions provides insights into human adaptation and lifecycle health.