Genetic and environmental determinants of 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels in multiple sclerosis

Julie H Laursen; Helle Bach Søndergaard; Anders Albrechtsen; Ruth Frikke-Schmidt; Nils Koch-Henriksen; Per Soelberg Sørensen; Finn Sellebjerg; Annette Oturai

doi:10.1177/1352458514563590

Genetic and environmental determinants of 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels in multiple sclerosis

Mult Scler. 2015 Oct;21(11):1414-22. doi: 10.1177/1352458514563590. Epub 2014 Dec 22.

Authors

Julie H Laursen¹, Helle Bach Søndergaard², Anders Albrechtsen³, Ruth Frikke-Schmidt⁴, Nils Koch-Henriksen⁵, Per Soelberg Sørensen², Finn Sellebjerg², Annette Oturai²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Neurology, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen University Hospital, Danish Multiple Sclerosis Center, Denmark juliehejgaard@hotmail.com.
² Department of Neurology, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen University Hospital, Danish Multiple Sclerosis Center, Denmark.
³ Centre of Bioinformatics, Faculty of Science, University of Copenhagen, Denmark.
⁴ Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen University Hospital, Denmark.
⁵ Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen University Hospital, Danish Multiple Sclerosis Treatment Register, Denmark/Clinical Institute, Department of Clinical Epidemiology, University of Aarhus, Denmark.

PMID: 25533295
DOI: 10.1177/1352458514563590

Abstract

Background: Evidence is accumulating supporting a beneficial effect of vitamin D in multiple sclerosis (MS). Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have shown significant associations between 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) and single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in key genes in the vitamin D metabolism.

Objective: To examine the association between 25(OH)D and six GWAS SNPs and environmental factors in 1497 MS patients.

Methods: Blood samples and lifestyle questionnaires were collected between 2009 and 2012. Genotyping of GC-, CYP2R1- and NADSYN1-SNPs was performed by TaqMan allelic discrimination (Life Technologies).

Results: We found significant associations between 25(OH)D and SNPs in GC (rs7041, p = 0.01 and rs2282679, p = 0.03) and CYP2R1 (rs10741657, p =1.8 × 10(-4)). Season of blood sampling (p = 2.8 × 10(-31)), sex (p = 1.9 × 10(-5)), BMI (p = 2.3 × 10(-5)), vitamin supplements (p = 7.0 × 10(-22)), and fish intake (p = 0.02) also had significant effects on 25(OH)D.

Conclusion: In this cross-sectional study, we found significant effects of environmental factors and SNPs in GC and CYP2R1 on 25(OH)D in MS patients. Since 25(OH)D might have protective effects in MS, and vitamin D supply is a modifiable factor, it may be important to include this in the MS treatment regimen.

Keywords: 25-hydroxyvitamin D; Multiple sclerosis; environment; genetics; vitamin D.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Adolescent
Adult
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Biological Specimen Banks
Cross-Sectional Studies
Denmark
Environment*
Female
Genome-Wide Association Study
Genotype*
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Multiple Sclerosis* / blood
Multiple Sclerosis* / etiology
Multiple Sclerosis* / genetics
Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide
Vitamin D / analogs & derivatives*
Vitamin D / blood
Young Adult

Substances

Vitamin D
25-hydroxyvitamin D