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Abstract

Because of itsâ�?�? formation through the action of sun exposure, vitamin D is often referred to as â�?�?the sunshine vitaminâ�?. However, with this endogenous formation of vitamin D being significantly curtailed because of public awareness of skin cancer dangers, attention is turning to dietary sources. As well as itâ�?�?s long recognized role in bone health, increasing evidence has implicated vitamin D deficiency in susceptibility to various gastrointestinal disorders, including colorectal cancer, inflammatory bowel diseases, diverticulitis and irritable bowel syndrome. There is also reason to suggest that vitamin D might provide an adjunct to therapy for such diseases, as well as retarding disease progression. However, an excessive vitamin D intake has been associated with adverse cardiovascular events. However, the optimal vitamin D intake will vary among individuals, because of their genetic differences. Several hundred genes have now been associated with various actions of this vitamin. Randomized controlled trials have been used to justify vitamin D supplementation in different population groups. Nevertheless, these studies may be misleading in the absence of genetic stratification. Genomic technologies have revealed several hundreds of genes associated with vitamin D actions. The nature of these genes emphasizes the potentially negative implications of modulating vitamin D intakes in the absence of complementary human genetic and genomic data, including information on the gut microbiome. We suggest that there is an increasingly strong case for considering the more widespread use of vitamin D fortified foods and/or dietary supplements to optimize gastrointestinal health. However, intake levels should be informed by personalized genetic and genomic information, for the maintenance of disease prevention or disease remission.

Biography

Email: l.ferguson@auckland.ac.nz