229 genes influenced by vitamin D levels were identified by UK and Canadian researchers. A number of the genes are directly implicated in autoimmune diseases like MS and cancers, rheumatoid arthritis and lupus. The results were published in the journal Genome Research, and have important implications in public health and prenatal care.

The interactions between DNA and proteins were able to be studies due to advances in DNA sequencing techniques - these tools allow researchers shed light on genetic susceptibility to several of the above mentioned diseases.

According to these recent studies, vitamin D intake is closely related to the susceptibility to MS, rheumatoid arthritis and type-1 diabetes. Also, it is already known that vitamin D deficiency, which affects 1 billion people worldwide, can lead to perinatal death and pelvic contractions. Normally this deficiency is easily fixed by getting enough sunshine or eating regularly fish oil.

The science behind vitamin D: The vitamin D receptor (VDR) binds parts of the human genome, and these parts influence the activity or expression of individual genes. This recent study offered more in depth information on the way VDR interacts with DNA and how it influences one’s genes to make proteins.

According to the finding of the research, 2,776 sites of VDR binding and 229 genes whose expression was directly linked to vitamin D were found. These sites have been associated with Chron’s disease, MS, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, leukemia and colorectal cancer, and other diseases.

These findings support the hypothesis that vitamin D interacts with genes in the pathogenesis of MS, and vitamin D deficiency is something that should be avoided by people who are sensitive to insufficiency.
According to Dr Sreeram Ramagopalan of the Wellcome Trust Centre for Human Genetics in the UK “There is now evidence supporting a role for vitamin D in susceptibility to a host of diseases. 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.”

“Vitamin D status is potentially one of the most powerful selective pressures on the genome in relatively recent times […]Our study appears to support this interpretation and it may be we have not had enough time to make all the adaptations we have needed to cope with our northern circumstances.” said Professor George Ebers of the Wellcome Trust Centre for Human Genetics.