scholarly journals Environmental selection during the last ice age on the mother-to-infant transmission of vitamin D and fatty acids through breast milk

2018 ◽  
Vol 115 (19) ◽  
pp. E4426-E4432 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leslea J. Hlusko ◽  
Joshua P. Carlson ◽  
George Chaplin ◽  
Scott A. Elias ◽  
John F. Hoffecker ◽  
...  

Because of the ubiquitous adaptability of our material culture, some human populations have occupied extreme environments that intensified selection on existing genomic variation. By 32,000 years ago, people were living in Arctic Beringia, and during the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM; 28,000–18,000 y ago), they likely persisted in the Beringian refugium. Such high latitudes provide only very low levels of UV radiation, and can thereby lead to dangerously low levels of biosynthesized vitamin D. The physiological effects of vitamin D deficiency range from reduced dietary absorption of calcium to a compromised immune system and modified adipose tissue function. The ectodysplasin A receptor (EDAR) gene has a range of pleiotropic effects, including sweat gland density, incisor shoveling, and mammary gland ductal branching. The frequency of the human-specificEDAR V370Aallele appears to be uniquely elevated in North and East Asian and New World populations due to a bout of positive selection likely to have occurredcirca20,000 y ago. The dental pleiotropic effects of this allele suggest an even higher occurrence among indigenous people in the Western Hemisphere before European colonization. We hypothesize that selection onEDAR V370Aoccurred in the Beringian refugium because it increases mammary ductal branching, and thereby may amplify the transfer of critical nutrients in vitamin D-deficient conditions to infants via mothers’ milk. This hypothesized selective context forEDAR V370Awas likely intertwined with selection on the fatty acid desaturase (FADS) gene cluster because it is known to modulate lipid profiles transmitted to milk from a vitamin D-rich diet high in omega-3 fatty acids.

2008 ◽  
Vol 41 (18) ◽  
pp. 16
Author(s):  
DIANA MAHONEY
Keyword(s):  

Author(s):  
Hari Balaji ◽  
Selvaraj Ayyamperuma ◽  
Niladri Saha ◽  
Shyam Sundar Pottabathula ◽  
Jubie Selvaraj ◽  
...  

: Vitamin-D deficiency is a global concern. Gene mutations in the vitamin D receptor’s (VDR) ligand binding domain (LBD) variously alter the ligand binding affinity, heterodimerization with retinoid X receptor (RXR) and inhibit coactivator interactions. These LBD mutations may result in partial or total hormone unresponsiveness. A plethora of evidence report that selective long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) including eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and arachidonic acid (AA) bind to the ligand-binding domain of VDR and lead to transcriptional activation. We therefore hypothesize that selective PUFAs would modulate the dynamics and kinetics of VDRs, irrespective bioactive of vitamin-D binding. The spatial arrangements of the selected PUFAs in VDR active site were examined by in-silico docking studies. The docking results revealed that PUFAs have fatty acid structure-specific binding affinity towards VDR. The calculated EPA, DHA & AA binding energies (Cdocker energy) were lesser compared to vitamin-D in wild type of VDR (PDB id: 2ZLC). Of note, the DHA has higher binding interactions to the mutated VDR (PDB id: 3VT7) when compared to the standard Vitamin-D. Molecular dynamic simulation was utilized to confirm the stability of potential compound binding of DHA with mutated VDR complex. These findings suggest the unique roles of PUFAs in VDR activation and may offer alternate strategy to circumvent vitamin-D deficiency.


Nutrients ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 77
Author(s):  
Xue Feng Hu ◽  
Hing Man Chan

Fish and seafood are excellent sources of nutrients such as omega-3 fatty acids, Vitamin D, and selenium. The aims of this study were to examine the pattern of seafood consumption among Canadians and determine their contribution to intakes of energy and nutrients. Day-1 24-h dietary recalls data collected from a national survey, the Canadian Community Health Survey—Nutrition in 2004 and 2015, were used to estimate food and nutrient intakes among Canadians. Seafood was classified according to the Bureau of Nutritional Sciences food list. Descriptive statistics were used to calculate the consumption rate and the average consumption amount of seafood by different age groups and sociodemographic characteristics. Population ratios were used to assess the contribution of seafood to the total intake of energy and nutrients. The overall consumption rate of seafood was around 17%, and the rate was similar between males and females, and slightly higher in 2015 (17.71%) compared to 2004 (16.38%). The average portion size is approximately 100 g, which translates into a ≈36 kg annual intake among the consumers and ≈6.2 kg per capita consumption. Adults (especially 30 years and above), Asians, individuals who were married, and with post-secondary education were more likely to consume seafood. Salmon, tuna, shrimp, cod, and crab were the most frequently consumed seafood in Canada, the consumption rate of which all increased from 2004 to 2015. Seafood provided up to 75% of n-3 PUFAs, 18% of Vitamin D, 19% Vitamin B12, 6% of niacin, and 4% of Vitamin B6 from all food sources. Seafood consumers had a healthier diet, as seafood consumption was related to a higher intake of key nutrients and a lower intake of total sugar and saturated fatty acids. Therefore, fish consumption should be promoted among Canadians.


2020 ◽  
Vol 79 (Suppl 1) ◽  
pp. 1640.2-1640
Author(s):  
I. González Fernández ◽  
C. Álvarez Castro ◽  
C. Moriano ◽  
A. López Robles ◽  
X. E. Larco Rojas ◽  
...  

Background:Vitamin D plays an important role in the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases, so that it has been shown that an adequate level is associated with a lower risk of developing this group of entities as well as a lower severity of them. Specifically, in spondyloarthritis (SpA) the deficiency has been associated with greater aggressiveness and greater radiological progression.Objectives:Assess levels of vitamin D in patients diagnosed with SpA in the León University Assistance Complex and study its possible relationship with different clinical-epidemiological variables.Methods:Prospective observational study between January 1, 2019 and December 31, 2019 with consecutive sampling of patients diagnosed with SpA (New York criteria, ASAS) in our hospital between 1973 and 2018. It was taken as a cut-off point for vitamin normality D those values ≥ 30 ng / ml. The disease activity was assessed based on BASDAI and CRP level (taking as a cut-off point 5 mg/l, reference value of our hospital and ruling out elevation due to intercurrent processes) in the last consultation. Positive values above 130 mlg/dL were considered for the orosomucoid and for calprotectin as undetermined values between 50-100 mg/kg feces and suspected IBD greater than 100 mg/kg feces. An attempt was made to link the value of vitamin D with disease activity, tobacco, the development of uveitis and the presence of subclinical intestinal inflammation.Results:132 patients were included, of which 60.6% were men with a mean age of 49.35 ± 12.95 years. 84.8% were B27 positive. 88.6% met New York criteria. 35.6% suffered uveitis at some time during their evolution. As for tobacco, 68.2% were non-smokers, 12.9% were former smokers and 18.9% were active smokers. 6.8% of the sample presented positivity for the orosomucoid and 37.8% alterations in calprotectin (of which 24.2% were undetermined and 13.6% suspected of inflammatory bowel disease). Only 25% of patients had elevated CRP levels and 11.4% of patients had BASDAI> 4. 50.8% of our sample had optimal levels of Vitamin D while 49.2% were at low values.A statistically significant association was observed between hypovitaminosis D and elevated CRP levels (p 0.038). In our sample we found no statistical association with uveitis or with markers of subclinical inflammatory activity.Conclusion:-Almost half of the patients in our sample have hypovitaminosis D which is probably attributable to the meteorological characteristics of León region.-Low levels of vitamin D are statistically significantly related to higher levels of CRP and, therefore, with greater disease activity.-No significant relationship was found with uveitis or with a higher risk of subclinical intestinal inflammation in our simple.References:[1]Castro Domínguez F, Salman Monte TC, Blanch Rubió J. Vitamin D in rheumatic diseases.Rev Osteoporos Metab Miner. 2017; 9 (1) supplement: 31-39.Disclosure of Interests:None declared


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Philip Newsholme

AbstractVarious nutrients can change cell structure, cellular metabolism, and cell function which is particularly important for cells of the immune system as nutrient availability is associated with the activation and function of diverse immune subsets. The most important nutrients for immune cell function and fate appear to be glucose, amino acids, fatty acids, and vitamin D. This perspective will describe recently published information describing the mechanism of action of prominent nutritional intervention agents where evidence exists as to their action and potency.


PLoS ONE ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 7 (6) ◽  
pp. e38934 ◽  
Author(s):  
Louise Jeanette Pauline Persson ◽  
Marianne Aanerud ◽  
Pieter Sicco Hiemstra ◽  
Jon Andrew Hardie ◽  
Per Sigvald Bakke ◽  
...  

2016 ◽  
Vol 2016 ◽  
pp. 1-3
Author(s):  
Valentina Talarico ◽  
Massimo Barreca ◽  
Rossella Galiano ◽  
Maria Concetta Galati ◽  
Giuseppe Raiola

An 18-month-old boy presented with abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, and poor appetite for 6 days. He had been given a multivitamin preparation once daily, containing 50.000 IU of vitamin D and 10.000 IU of vitamin A for a wide anterior fontanelle for about three months. He presented with hypercalcemia, low levels of parathyroid hormone (PTH), and very high serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-OHD) levels. Renal ultrasound showed nephrocalcinosis. He did not have sign or symptom of vitamin A intoxication. Patient was successfully treated with intravenous hydration, furosemide, and prednisolone. With treatment, serum calcium returned rapidly to the normal range and serum 25-OHD levels were reduced progressively. In conclusion the diagnosis of vitamin D deficiency rickets without checking 25-OHD levels may cause redundant treatment that leads to vitamin D intoxication (VDI).


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Erica Nielsen ◽  
Romina Henriques ◽  
Maria Beger ◽  
Robert Toonen ◽  
Sophie von der Heyden

Abstract Background: As global change and anthropogenic pressures continue to increase, conservation and management increasingly needs to consider species’ potential to adapt to novel environmental conditions. Therefore, it is imperative to characterise the main selective forces acting on ecosystems, and how these may influence the evolutionary potential of populations and species. Using a multi-model seascape genomics approach, we compare putative environmental drivers of selection in three sympatric southern African marine invertebrates with contrasting ecology and life histories: Cape urchin (Parechinus angulosus), Common shore crab (Cyclograpsus punctatus), and Granular limpet (Scutellastra granularis). Results: Using pooled (Pool-seq), restriction-site associated DNA sequencing (RAD-seq), and seven outlier detection methods, we characterise genomic variation between populations along a strong biogeographical gradient. Of the three species, only S. granularis showed significant isolation-by-distance, and isolation-by-environment driven by sea surface temperatures (SST). In contrast, sea surface salinity (SSS) and range in air temperature correlated more strongly with genomic variation in C. punctatus and P. angulosus. Differences were also found in genomic structuring between the three species, with outlier loci contributing to two clusters in the East and West Coasts for S. granularis and P. angulosus, but not for C. punctatus. Conclusion: The findings illustrate distinct evolutionary potential across species, suggesting that species-specific habitat requirements and responses to environmental stresses may be better predictors of evolutionary patterns than the strong environmental gradients within the region. We also found large discrepancies between outlier detection methodologies, and thus offer a novel multi-model approach to identifying the principal environmental selection forces acting on species. Overall, this work highlights how adding a comparative approach to seascape genomics (both with multiple models and species) can elucidate the intricate evolutionary responses of ecosystems to global change.


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