Is Vitamin D the Answer to Preventing Cancer?
   Researchers at the university of California, San Diego School of Medicine report that higher levels of vitamin D are associated with lower risks of cancer. They were able to quantify the long believed idea that higher levels of Vitamin D can aide in prevention of cancer.  Original studies showed that population at higher altitudes and who received less sunlight, therefore received less vitamin D, were more susceptible to colon, breast, lung, and bladder cancer.
      The purpose of the most recent study was to find what blood level of vitamin D was required to effectively reduce cancer risk. after conducting the experiment the researchers found that the median blood serum of vitamin D was 30 ng/mL. They also found that the age-adjusted number of cancer incidence was 1,020 cases per 100,000 people. After putting the results together the result of the experiment was that a blood serum level of vitamin D 40ng/mL or above improves your risk of preventing cancer by 67%.
     How does all of this relate to genetics? There is a gene that creates a protein that acts as a Vitamin D receptor, known as the VDR gene. The VDR gene allows the body to respond appropriately to the intake of Vitamin D. This means that if there is a mutation or error in the DNA that codes for this gene it can affect the way the body receives vitamin D; causing a person the be deficient in vitamin D. This can result in an increased chance of cancer according to the study. In my opinion this is interesting, because if more information is learned about the VDR gene new advances in cancer prevention made. Maybe this gene holds a key to a cancer-less future.

Agriculture Link to DNA Changes

Within a recent study, scientist have discovered that people's DNA changed drastically, following the incorporation of agriculture. Specifically alterations in height, digestion, immune systems and skin color were noted. Through the study of ancient skeletons, two evolutions have been discovered. First, prior to the rise in agriculture, the European population was made up of hunter-gathers. This population was then influenced by a population in the Near East and then finally by a nomadic population from Russia. As a direct result, the diets of these populations changed. The initial diets of the hunter-gather were ill equipped, for example, to digest milk. Not until the population began raising cattle did the gene LCT appear, which assists in milk digestion.

Additionally, the study noted that the original hunter-gather, who originated from Africa, had darker skin while the farmers from Anatolia were lighter, a trait that spread through Europe. The basis of this belief being that the early hunter-gather managed elevated vitamin D levels via the meat that was caught. While the farmers captured more vitamin D due to their exposure to sunlight at high altitudes. However, the spread of lighter skin, it is theorized, is the result of greater agricultural emphasis which resulted in lower vitamin D levels.

In the end, the study of ancient skeletons has provided an increased size or research subjects which, when studied have revealed an evolution. This genetic evolution is directly linked to the transition of gathering foods to hunting foods; from hunted foods to agricultural foods. 

Our DNA will continue to change, and future researches will be able to take notice. Our food will continue to change and our bodies will adapt to it. 

Think twice next time taking vitamin D

When growing up parents are always told us to take your vitamins to grow big and strong.  Vitamin deficiency is obviously bad for someones health but scientists have found that having high levels of a certain vitamin can be just as harmful.  According to a study conducted by a group of University of Copenhagen scientists, they show that there is a connection between high levels of vitamin D in the blood and cardiovascular death.  The scientists conducted a study of 247,574 people over a period of seven years, taking a blood sample from each patient to measure levels of vitamin D.  After the seven years the scientists looked at the mortality rate of the patients and found that 16,645 of them have died.  They then observed the initial blood sample taken and confirmed that there is a correlation between mortality rate and high levels of vitamin D in the blood.


This was the first time that scientists have been able to reveal that too much vitamin D can be bad for your health.  The optimal levels of vitamin D in the blood is about 70 nanomols per litre, and anything under 50 or over 100 may increase the risk of a stroke or a coronary.  Most people get enough vitamin D through foods they eat, such as fish and diary products, as well as, vitamin D being naturally made in the body when exposed to sunlight.  It is important for people to know that high levels of a certain vitamin can be bad for them because so many people are taking health supplements. 

The European Natural Selection

Researchers have found the remains of Europeans who existed from 3,000 to 8,500 years ago. Each fossil suggests that many populations underwent changes in their genetic code, which researchers suggested as the European's "Natural Selection." With the use of 230 human fossils across that time frame, researchers found 12 spots of the human genome where this natural selection may have occurred. They believed that the inception of farming had much to do with these changes in the human genome.

The green circles are where the hunter gatherers were.
The blue circle is where the European farmers existed.
The red circle is where the Eurasian steppe population existed.

Northern Europeans have strong genetic linkage to nomadic Europeans who existed 4,500 years ago in the Eurasian steppe. Both of these groups have the trait of being very tall. In contrast, Southern Europeans were shorter, which was most likely because they started farming. Since they were required to remain in one place and handle sedentary work, the Southern Europeans would not have to pass down the genes that express the trait of being tall. They also developed lighter skin in order to efficiently absorb more sunlight from their work environment, and produce Vitamin D. The nomadic Europeans did not require light skin because the food that they hunted for provided all the Vitamin D that they required. Their newly developed genes enabled them to develop new enzymes that could metabolize fat and circulate Vitamin D. More research is being performed, but the present research brings much promise for understanding the ancestors of many Europeans.

Original Article

Second Article

Too Much Vitamin D Can Be Bad

      So since childhood most people have heard that not getting enough vitamin D can cause serious problems to ones health. Well now scientists are saying that too much vitamin D can actually have some serious risks as well, to include death. A study that has been going on for several years has actually proven that too much vitamin D can be deadly. A study using 247,574 Danes was done to study the levels of vitamin D in the bodies. During the seven years the study took place 16,645 patients have died. The connection between a high vitamin D rate and death rate is highly significant. 

     

       The study showed that a person's vitamin D level should be between 50 and 100 nanomol per liter. Patients over 100 actually showed a higher death rate cause from a stroke or a coronary. Too low of a level can also cause death. A good healthy level would be around 70 nanomol per liter. 

     

        This article is a good source of information considering many people take vitamin supplements. If people are aware of the possible harm these supplements might cause it could save many lives. Never did I hear that too much vitamin D could kill you so it is interesting how new research in different fields is showing results. The positive result for this research is that people will now be aware of a healthy level of vitamin D and possibly other vitamins in the future. 

Original Article 

Vitamin D influences genes

              Research has found that vitamin D influences about 200 genes. Vitamin D is from the exposure of the sun. One billion of people in the world do not have enough amount of vitamin D from the sun. It is also found that vitamin D increases a person’s susceptibility to autoimmune conditions such as diabetes type 1. Vitamin D interacts with our DNA because vitamin D receptor is a protein that is only activated by vitamin D. It attached to DNA and influences which proteins are created from our genetic code. Along the length of the genome, 2,776 binding sites found for vitamin D receptor.  At least 229 genes are effects by vitamin D. Research has also found that light skin and hair color evolved in populations moving to areas with less sun. Lacking vitamin D negatively affects bone development in pregnant mothers which is fatal to the mother and the baby. Vitamin D is not naturally found in foods, unlike other vitamins that can be found in food. One must sit in the sun for at least 15 minutes per day to receive accurate vitamin D. There are two type of vitamin D: Vitamin D₂  and D₃ which are both found sunlight. 

                Vitamin D deficiency can kill you quicker. The type of cancers that vitamin D deficiency causes are breast, prostate and column. Copenhagen City heart study has found that “genes with low vitamin D had a mortality rate that is 30% higher and 40% higher cancer-related death”. Low vitamin D also has a higher chance of brain damage after cardiac arrest.

Link 1:http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-and-supplements/news/20141119/low-levels-of-vitamin-d-may-raise-early-death-risk-study

Related link: http://www.medicaldaily.com/vitamin-d-deficiency-can-kill-you-quicker-why-sunshine-vitamin-essential-your-health-311254

Genetics Determine Winter Vitamin D Status

In this article, it talks about the importance of Vitamin D. Vitamin D can be influenced by genetics, skin color, and sun exposure. It can be made in body from Sunlight or added by fortification in food. Reports of greater than expected vitamin D insufficiency coupled with emerging evidence that higher circulating concentrations of this nutrient may protect against cardiovascular disease have prompted a renewed interest in teasing out how environment, genetics, and behavior work independently and coordinately to influence vitamin D status.
To better understand and explain this, researchers from Emory University studied vitamin D status in twins living in different North American locations. Shelley McGuire, spokesperson for American Society for Nutrition mentions that vitamin is much more important than keeping the bones strong. It can help us protect against diseases such as heart disease and cancer and can helps us keep our body healthy. The result of Karohl study says that in winter vitamin D status is affected by the genetic differences and during summer time the vitamin D is mostly affected by non-genetic factors such as lifestyle choices and sun exposure. This article is interesting because it provides very useful information. I was not aware that Vitamin D in winter was affected by genetic differences. It also gives useful information for further studies.