Description
Vitamin D is made in our bodies when our skin absorbs sunlight and is also found in small amounts in food. Vitamin D is important for our good health and a deficiency is linked to an array of health problems including osteoporosis and bone fractures. You may be surprised to hear that vitamin D deficiency is common – even in a sunny country like Australia. Your genes are one factor of many that affect how your body metabolises vitamin D. A simple genetic test can help you understand more about your ability to metabolise vitamin D and what this means for your health. Why is vitamin D Important? Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin with many health benefits. Your body uses vitamin D to build and maintain healthy bones and muscles, and to help your body absorb calcium. Insufficient levels of vitamin D have been linked to an increased risk of many health problems including:
- Osteoporosis and fractures
- Reduced immunity
- Autoimmune diseases such as lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, MS and Crohn’s disease
- Diabetes
- Heart disease and high blood pressure
- Liver disease
- Depression and other mood problems
What are Good Sources of Vitamin D? You can get vitamin D from some foods, sunshine and supplements. It’s very difficult to get enough vitamin D from food aloneeven if you eat a healthy, balanced diet. Sunshine is the best source of vitamin D. Your skin stores an inactive form of the vitamin, and when sun hits your skin it starts a process that converts vitamin D into its active form. Vitamin D supplements are useful for people who can’t get enough vitamin D from the sun and food and for people who don’t metabolise vitamin D as well. Your healthcare professional can advise you on this. How Are Genes Involved? Your genes influence how your body metabolises vitamin D from any source. There are at least three genes involved in vitamin D metabolism: GC, DHCR7 and CYP2R1. If you have a variation in any of these genes it may affect the way your body metabolises vitamin D and may result in vitamin D insufficiency: where you may not have enough vitamin D to meet you daily needs. This insufficiency may lead to vitamin D deficiency if you also don’t get enough vitamin D from the sun, foods or supplements. Who Should Have the Test? Anyone can have a vitamin D metabolism genetic test to understand more about their health. Having the test is the only to find out if you have gene variations that can result in vitamin D insufficiency. The test may be very helpful for people who:
- Have limited sun exposurepeople who spend most of their time indoors or who cover their skin when outdoors.
- Have darker skin, which is less efficient in converting sunlight to vitamin D.
- Are at risk of or have heart disease or high blood pressure.
- Have low bone density: osteoporosis or osteopenia.
- Have had a fracture due to low bone density.
- Don’t eat dairy products or have a low calcium intake.
- Have had a blood test that has shown low vitamin D levels.
- Have liver or kidney disease.
- Have a family or personal history of autoimmune disease or depression.
What Will My Results Tell Me? Your results will tell you if you have variations in the GC, DHCR7 and CYP2R1 genes that influence vitamin D metabolism. Your Emed Practitioner will explain what this result means and will make personalised recommendations about the ideal amount of vitamin D for you to prevent deficiency and possible health problems. Further Reading:
