Genetics influence a person's vitamin D levels during the winter while other factors have the greatest impact in the summer.
Vitamin D, which is needed to maintain health and for strong bones, is naturally made by the body when exposed to sunlight. Most foods do not contain vitamin D unless it's added by fortification.
Researchers checked 310 identical twins and 200 non-identical twins in America, average age 55 years, for blood levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D, a marker of exposure to vitamin D. It was found that average levels were adequate, but levels were higher in the summer than in the winter. According to the researchers, 70 percent of the variation in vitamin D concentrations in the winter could be attributed to genetic factors.
However, none of the variation in the summer was due to genetics, but rather to environmental conditions such as sunlight exposure and latitude, and other lifestyle factors such as the amount of vitamin D in the diet.
Therefore, further studies to learn more about how all these factors influence vitamin D levels would be useful for public health experts as they consider ways to ensure adequate vitamin D levels in all populations.
Researchers checked 310 identical twins and 200 non-identical twins in America, average age 55 years, for blood levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D, a marker of exposure to vitamin D. It was found that average levels were adequate, but levels were higher in the summer than in the winter. According to the researchers, 70 percent of the variation in vitamin D concentrations in the winter could be attributed to genetic factors.
However, none of the variation in the summer was due to genetics, but rather to environmental conditions such as sunlight exposure and latitude, and other lifestyle factors such as the amount of vitamin D in the diet.
Therefore, further studies to learn more about how all these factors influence vitamin D levels would be useful for public health experts as they consider ways to ensure adequate vitamin D levels in all populations.