Determinants of Vitamin D in Indian Populations: Understanding the Interplay of Skin Pigmentation, Sun Exposure, and Genetic Variants

IF 1.7 4区医学 Q1 ANTHROPOLOGY

American Journal of Human Biology Pub Date : 2026-03-19 DOI:10.1002/ajhb.70228

Manjari Jonnalagadda, Snehal Bhumkar, Shantanu Ozarkar, Richa Ashma

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Objectives

The present study evaluates the effects and interaction of skin pigmentation, sun exposure, and genetics on 25(OH)D₃ levels among ostensibly healthy Indians.

Methods

Vitamin D₃ was estimated (N = 427) and means were compared between the sexes and study populations. Vitamin D₃ was correlated with Melanin Index (MI) and Weekly Sun Exposure Scores (WSES) using Kendall's tau-b (τb). The effect of age, sex, MI, WSES, and 12 SNPs from vitamin D and skin pigmentation genes were tested on 25(OH)D₃ levels using univariate and multivariate linear models.

Results

A total of 76.6% of the sample were deficient, with males being more deficient than females (p = 0.0016). Deshastha Brahmin caste with lowest MI (42.91 ± 4.47) and WSES (14.4 ± 8.55) reported highest 25(OH)D₃ levels (26.09 ng/mL±16.84). Tribals with higher MI (52.83 ± 7.84–58.83 ± 6.37) and WSES (21.96 ± 7.85–28 ± 0) report low 25(OH)D₃ levels (13.31 ± 7.05–17.94 ± 972). Vitamin D₃ was weakly correlated with MI in Bhils and Kokanas (p < 0.05) and was not significantly correlated with WSES. Multivariate regression shows only sex (p = 0.031), MI (p = 0.018), and WSES (p < 0.001) to be significant predictors of vitamin D levels as compared to age, population, and rs1426654 genotype.

Conclusion

Vitamin D levels vary significantly among populations with widespread deficiency seen in tribal and rural populations, suggesting population-specific environments and behavioral factors to be at play. Targeted dietary fortification is needed, and additional large-scale longitudinal and genome-wide association studies will help identify key factors responsible for vitamin D deficiency among Indian populations.

查看原文本刊更多论文

印度人群中维生素D的决定因素：了解皮肤色素沉着、阳光照射和基因变异的相互作用。

目的：本研究评估皮肤色素沉着、阳光照射和基因对表面健康的印度人25(OH)D3水平的影响和相互作用。方法：对维生素D3进行估计（N = 427），并比较性别和研究人群之间的平均值。维生素D3与黑色素指数（MI）和每周日晒评分（WSES）使用肯德尔τ -b （τb）相关。使用单变量和多变量线性模型测试年龄、性别、心肌梗死、WSES和维生素D和皮肤色素基因的12个snp对25(OH)D3水平的影响。结果：缺乏率为76.6%，男性缺乏率高于女性（p = 0.0016）。最低MI（42.91±4.47）和最低WSES（14.4±8.55）的婆罗门种姓25(OH)D3水平最高（26.09 ng/mL±16.84）。高MI（52.83±7.84-58.83±6.37）和WSES（21.96±7.85-28±0）的部落报告低25(OH)D3水平（13.31±7.05-17.94±972）。维生素D3与Bhils和Kokanas的心肌梗死呈弱相关(p结论：维生素D水平在部落和农村人群中普遍缺乏，这表明特定人群的环境和行为因素在起作用。有针对性的膳食强化是必要的，另外的大规模纵向和全基因组关联研究将有助于确定导致印度人群维生素D缺乏的关键因素。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

American Journal of Human Biology 生物-生物学

CiteScore

4.80

自引率

13.80%

发文量

124

审稿时长

4-8 weeks

期刊介绍： The American Journal of Human Biology is the Official Journal of the Human Biology Association. The American Journal of Human Biology is a bimonthly, peer-reviewed, internationally circulated journal that publishes reports of original research, theoretical articles and timely reviews, and brief communications in the interdisciplinary field of human biology. As the official journal of the Human Biology Association, the Journal also publishes abstracts of research presented at its annual scientific meeting and book reviews relevant to the field. The Journal seeks scholarly manuscripts that address all aspects of human biology, health, and disease, particularly those that stress comparative, developmental, ecological, or evolutionary perspectives. The transdisciplinary areas covered in the Journal include, but are not limited to, epidemiology, genetic variation, population biology and demography, physiology, anatomy, nutrition, growth and aging, physical performance, physical activity and fitness, ecology, and evolution, along with their interactions. The Journal publishes basic, applied, and methodologically oriented research from all areas, including measurement, analytical techniques and strategies, and computer applications in human biology. Like many other biologically oriented disciplines, the field of human biology has undergone considerable growth and diversification in recent years, and the expansion of the aims and scope of the Journal is a reflection of this growth and membership diversification. The Journal is committed to prompt review, and priority publication is given to manuscripts with novel or timely findings, and to manuscripts of unusual interest.