Vitamin D is associated with bone and calcium metabolism. However, more recently, studies have increasingly reported the effect of vitamin D on other organs and systems. For example, vitamin D is associated with all-cause mortality and cardiovascular mortality. Vitamin D is also associated with peripheral arterial diseases. Further, vitamin D has been associated with serum C-reactive protein levels (a biomarker of systemic inflammation). Vitamin D has also been associated with liver function.
African Americans tend to have significantly lower levels of serum vitamin D and hence may be at a higher risk of low vitamin D related morbidity. The reason perhaps lies in genetics, at least that is what this study suggests. Investigators assessed the association between percentage of European ancestry and serum vitamin D level among 2,183 African-American women. An algorithm implemented through a software was used to estimate the percentage of European ancestry versus African ancestry in each individual. After adjustment for various potential confounders (genotype batch, age, body mass index, supplemental vitamin D use, ultraviolet B radiation flux in the participant’s state of residence, and season of blood draw), investigators reported that each 10% increase in European ancestry was associated with a 0.67-ng/mL increase in serum vitamin D concentration (95% confidence interval: 0.17, 1.17).
Question remains if the low serum levels of vitamin D are clinically meaningful in African Americans. Do low serum vitamin D levels are reflective of low tissue levels (or effective tissue levels)? These type of questions will need a different and more involved study designs for answers.
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