Natural selection at work? Vitamin D deficiency rates and rising health problems in young Turkish Cypriot professionals

Abstract

Objectives: Vitamin D is a fat-soluble, prohormone vitamin that is important especially for bone mineralization and skeletal health. In recent years, vitamin D deficiency appeared as a worldwide problem, affecting many people in different ways including the Northern Cypriot population. The deficiency might be caused by the lack of exposure to sunlight, diet low in vitamin D, sedentary lifestyle, and also due to some genetic variations in the vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene.Methods: In this study, four common VDR polymorphisms and associations with vitamin D deficiency in the Turkish Cypriot population between ages 18-40 and working in office conditions was studied by PCR-RFLP analysis.Results: rs2228570 C>T variant was shown to be significantly associated with low serum vitamin D levels in the studied population. Conclusion:Together with the effect of rs2228570 C>T variant in the VDR gene, it is thought that the lifestyle changes in the Turkish Cypriot population might have caused the increased frequency of vitamin D deficiency in the young professionals.

Strong Association between Vitamin D Receptor Gene and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus 2 Infectious Variants

“…13 Limited sun exposure, advanced age, a sedentary lifestyle, and vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene polymorphisms might be the factors linked to a greater risk of vitamin D deficiency diseases. 14 However, a recent study showed that the young Turkish Cypriots population in Northern Cyprus was found to be vitamin D deficient, despite the fact that the Island of Cyprus receives constant sunlight for almost 9 months a year, and the Mediterranean diet is rich in vitamin D-containing foods. 14,15 Moreover, the polymorphisms on the VDR gene included the most well-known TaqI-rs731236 T > C, ApaI-rs7975232 A > C, BsmI-rs1544410 G > A, and FokI-rs10735810 C > T, which were associated with secretion of vitamin D and a higher risk of chronic diseases like autoimmune diseases, type 2 diabetes, and cancer.…”

“…14 However, a recent study showed that the young Turkish Cypriots population in Northern Cyprus was found to be vitamin D deficient, despite the fact that the Island of Cyprus receives constant sunlight for almost 9 months a year, and the Mediterranean diet is rich in vitamin D-containing foods. 14,15 Moreover, the polymorphisms on the VDR gene included the most well-known TaqI-rs731236 T > C, ApaI-rs7975232 A > C, BsmI-rs1544410 G > A, and FokI-rs10735810 C > T, which were associated with secretion of vitamin D and a higher risk of chronic diseases like autoimmune diseases, type 2 diabetes, and cancer. 16,17 Studies on the associations of COVID-19 prevalence and mortality rates and genetic variability of the hosts showed that VDR gene polymorphisms may play role in modulating COVID-19 infection and might be related to the survival of the patients and COVID-19 severity.…”

“…Limited sun exposure, advanced age, a sedentary lifestyle, and vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene polymorphisms might be the factors linked to a greater risk of vitamin D deficiency diseases. 14 However, a recent study showed that the young Turkish Cypriots population in Northern Cyprus was found to be vitamin D deficient, despite the fact that the Island of Cyprus receives constant sunlight for almost 9 months a year, and the Mediterranean diet is rich in vitamin D-containing foods. 14 15 …”

“… 14 However, a recent study showed that the young Turkish Cypriots population in Northern Cyprus was found to be vitamin D deficient, despite the fact that the Island of Cyprus receives constant sunlight for almost 9 months a year, and the Mediterranean diet is rich in vitamin D-containing foods. 14 15 …”