Vitamin D (again)

[JLH]

Study: Lack of Vitamin D Leads to Disease
(Ivanhoe Newswire) – Vitamin D isn't just for strong bones anymore. The vitamin directly influences over 200 genes in your body and a lack of it plays a strong role in the susceptibility to all sorts of diseases, even cancer.



In a study at the University of Oxford, researchers created a map of vitamin D receptor binding across the human genome. This receptor is a protein that attaches itself to DNA and therefore influences what our genetic code produces.



There were nearly 3,000 binding sites for this vitamin D receptor, the majority unusually concentrated near genes associated with autoimmune conditions such as multiple sclerosis, Crohn’s disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and diabetes.



“Vitamin D supplements during pregnancy and the early years could have a beneficial effect on a child’s health later in life. Some countries such as France have instituted this as a routine public health measure,” Dr. Sreeram Ramagopalan, lead author, was quoted as saying.



SOURCE: Genome Research, August 2010.

[tex]

Canada has been researching for years, trying to figure out why they are experiencing an epidemic of Crohn's disease. I believe the reason is pretty obvious, but I doubt that they'll ever be able to prove it sufficiently to meet scientific standards, (IOW using random, double-blind trials).

Tex