{"title":"Determinants of Vitamin D in Indian Populations: Understanding the Interplay of Skin Pigmentation, Sun Exposure, and Genetic Variants","authors":"Manjari Jonnalagadda, Snehal Bhumkar, Shantanu Ozarkar, Richa Ashma","doi":"10.1002/ajhb.70228","DOIUrl":"10.1002/ajhb.70228","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Objectives</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>The present study evaluates the effects and interaction of skin pigmentation, sun exposure, and genetics on 25(OH)D<sub>3</sub> levels among ostensibly healthy Indians.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Vitamin D<sub>3</sub> was estimated (<i>N</i> = 427) and means were compared between the sexes and study populations. Vitamin D<sub>3</sub> 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)D<sub>3</sub> levels using univariate and multivariate linear models.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>A total of 76.6% of the sample were deficient, with males being more deficient than females (<i>p</i> = 0.0016). Deshastha Brahmin caste with lowest MI (42.91 ± 4.47) and WSES (14.4 ± 8.55) reported highest 25(OH)D<sub>3</sub> 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)D<sub>3</sub> levels (13.31 ± 7.05–17.94 ± 972). Vitamin D<sub>3</sub> was weakly correlated with MI in Bhils and Kokanas (<i>p</i> < 0.05) and was not significantly correlated with WSES. Multivariate regression shows only sex (<i>p</i> = 0.031), MI (<i>p</i> = 0.018), and WSES (<i>p</i> < 0.001) to be significant predictors of vitamin D levels as compared to age, population, and rs1426654 genotype.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusion</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>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.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":50809,"journal":{"name":"American Journal of Human Biology","volume":"38 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-03-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147488373","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Admixture and Genetic Connectivity: Autosomal Insights Into Indo-Aryan Speakers at the Eastern Edge of the Indian Subcontinent","authors":"Vanya Singh, Chandana Basu Mallick, Madhumati Chatterjee, Rakesh Tamang, Shailesh Desai, Prajjval Pratap Singh, Rahul Kumar Mishra, Rudra Kumar Pandey, Ritusha Mishra, Ashish Singh, Prashanth Suravajhala, Arup Ratan Bandyopadhyay, Gyaneshwer Chaubey","doi":"10.1002/ajhb.70245","DOIUrl":"10.1002/ajhb.70245","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Assam serves as a melting pot where various ethnicities converge, shaped by its strategic location bordering the six northeastern states and neighboring countries. This study examines the genomic ancestry of Indo-Aryan speakers in Assam, a region at the eastern edge of the Indian subcontinent known for its diverse linguistic and cultural influences. Principal Components Analysis (PCA) revealed that Assamese Indo-Aryans cluster closely with Bangladeshi Indo-Aryans, diverging from the typical South Asian genetic continuum. This group shows significant ancestral influences from East and Southeast Asia. Outgroup <i>f</i>3 statistics indicated that Assamese Indo-Aryans exhibit greater genetic drift in relation to other Indo-Aryan populations, particularly the Harijan and Kol groups from the Ganga plain, rather than with geographically closer Bengali or Nyishi populations. Haplotype-based fine-structure and identity by descent (IBD) analyses confirmed a close genetic affinity with Bangladeshi Indo-Aryans, along with notable connections to Harijan and Kol populations. The low levels of Runs of Homozygosity (RoH) suggest a high degree of genetic diversity, most likely due to a result of admixture and a large effective population size. Admixture events are estimated to have occurred 55 to 61 generations ago, indicating a composition of 76% Indian ancestry and 24% East/Southeast Asian ancestry. These findings, with enhanced resolution, suggest a reconsideration of the previous assumption that Northeast India served as a genetic barrier. Instead, they appear to support its role as a corridor facilitating bidirectional gene flow between South and East/Southeast Asia. Furthermore, the coexistence of diverse linguistic affiliations of ethnic groups in this region reflects in their ancestry patterns. These findings highlight the complex interplay of geography, language, and genetic exchange in the region.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":50809,"journal":{"name":"American Journal of Human Biology","volume":"38 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-03-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147488395","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Fifty Years of Research From the Human Biology Association","authors":"William R. Leonard","doi":"10.1002/ajhb.70234","DOIUrl":"10.1002/ajhb.70234","url":null,"abstract":"<p>At the Human Biology Association (HBA) Meetings in March of 2025, we celebrated the 50th Anniversary of the Association. In this Virtual Special of the <i>American Journal of Human Biology</i> (Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the Human Biology Association: American Journal of Human Biology), we recognize this important milestone with an impressive set of papers that discuss the history of the HBA and highlight the diversity of impactful work being done in our field. This Special Issue includes: (1) invited reviews from the <i>AJHB'</i>s Past Editors, (2) historical pieces discussing long-term foundational human biology research at sites in the Peruvian Andes and Canadian arctic, and (3) invited commentaries on 15 of the most influential papers published in the journal.</p><p>I sincerely thank all of the authors for their thoughtful and engaging contributions to this Special Issue. I hope that this collection offers us an opportunity to honor and celebrate the rich history of human biology research, reflect on the growth and expansion of our field over the last 50 years, and contemplate future directions for our important work. Onward!</p><p>The author has nothing to report.</p><p>Data sharing not applicable to this article as no datasets were generated or analysed during the current study.</p>","PeriodicalId":50809,"journal":{"name":"American Journal of Human Biology","volume":"38 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-03-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/ajhb.70234","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147464207","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Mukhtiar Hussain Ibupoto, Muhammad Burhan Ashraf, Xiaofen Qiu, Su Yankui, Asif Ali Laghari, Anqi Sang
{"title":"Exploration of Household Socioeconomic Factors Related to Fertility and Child Mortality in Pakistan","authors":"Mukhtiar Hussain Ibupoto, Muhammad Burhan Ashraf, Xiaofen Qiu, Su Yankui, Asif Ali Laghari, Anqi Sang","doi":"10.1002/ajhb.70246","DOIUrl":"10.1002/ajhb.70246","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Introduction</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Fertility and child mortality remain critical public health and development concerns in Pakistan, reflecting deep-rooted socioeconomic disparities at the household level. This narrative review synthesizes empirical evidence on patterns of child fertility and mortality and examines the socioeconomic, demographic, and contextual factors shaping these outcomes in Pakistan.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>A design to synthesize empirical evidence on the following established narrative review guidelines, peer-reviewed studies published over the past two decades were identified through major academic databases, including those focusing on fertility behavior, child survival, and household-level determinants.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Finding</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Gender norms, son preference, and women's autonomy also emerge as significant contributors influencing reproductive decision-making and child health outcomes. Furthermore, regional inequalities and limited utilization of maternal and child healthcare services exacerbate risks among socioeconomically disadvantaged households. The findings underscore the interconnected nature of fertility behavior and child survival within broader structural and sociocultural contexts. The reviewed literature consistently demonstrates that child mortality and child fertility rates are strongly associated with household socioeconomic conditions, particularly parental education, household wealth status, maternal employment, place of residence, and access to health services.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusion</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>This review highlights the need for integrated policy interventions that address socioeconomic inequalities, strengthen maternal and child health systems, and promote female education and empowerment to achieve sustained improvements in child survival and fertility regulation in Pakistan.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":50809,"journal":{"name":"American Journal of Human Biology","volume":"38 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-03-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147464128","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Gauri Naik, Victoria Durney, Emily Gray, JoceLynn Labossiere, Luisa Sanchez, Jenna Seafuse, Anjan Kumar, Farjana Haque, Tami Blumenfield, Siobhan Cully, Nurul Alam, Rubhana Raqib, Katherine Wander, Mary K. Shenk
{"title":"Nutrition and Handgrip Strength Among Adults in Rural Matlab, Bangladesh","authors":"Gauri Naik, Victoria Durney, Emily Gray, JoceLynn Labossiere, Luisa Sanchez, Jenna Seafuse, Anjan Kumar, Farjana Haque, Tami Blumenfield, Siobhan Cully, Nurul Alam, Rubhana Raqib, Katherine Wander, Mary K. Shenk","doi":"10.1002/ajhb.70238","DOIUrl":"10.1002/ajhb.70238","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Objective</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Handgrip strength (HGS) provides a dynamic indicator of overall strength and physical fitness. Population-based investigations of anemia and iron deficiency as predictors of HGS are limited; most studies rely on elderly and/or clinical samples. We assessed iron deficiency, anemia, body mass index (BMI), and body fat percentage as predictors of HGS among a representative cross-sectional sample of adult residents of Matlab, Bangladesh.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>We collected HGS, anthropometric measurements, and whole blood specimens from a representative, population-based sample of adults in Matlab. We used hemoglobin to identify anemia and soluble transferrin receptor to identify iron deficiency. We estimated mixed-effects generalized linear models of HGS.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Iron deficiency, but not anemia, was negatively associated with HGS among both men and women. Among men, but not women, underweight BMI was negatively associated with HGS, and overweight BMI was positively associated with HGS.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusions</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Iron nutrition is important for muscles' capacity for work and overall physical fitness, regardless of the presence of anemia. Among men (but not women) in this setting, BMI categories seem to capture differences in muscle tissue as well as adiposity.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":50809,"journal":{"name":"American Journal of Human Biology","volume":"38 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-03-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12989739/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147464209","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Distinguishing Biological Predisposition From Genetic Nurture in Life History Strategies","authors":"Leonardo Pereira Levada","doi":"10.1002/ajhb.70237","DOIUrl":"10.1002/ajhb.70237","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":50809,"journal":{"name":"American Journal of Human Biology","volume":"38 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-03-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147460793","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Luísa Harumi Matsuo, Gilciane Ceolin, Francisco de Assis Guedes de Vasconcelos, Diego Augusto Santos Silva, Daniele Biazzi Leal, Patrícia de Fragas Hinnig
{"title":"Longitudinal Association Between Body Mass Index z-Score and Puberty: Structural Equation Modeling Analyses","authors":"Luísa Harumi Matsuo, Gilciane Ceolin, Francisco de Assis Guedes de Vasconcelos, Diego Augusto Santos Silva, Daniele Biazzi Leal, Patrícia de Fragas Hinnig","doi":"10.1002/ajhb.70242","DOIUrl":"10.1002/ajhb.70242","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Objectives</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Changes in the timing of puberty may reflect shifts in population health, including the rising prevalence of overweight and obesity. Therefore, this study aimed to analyze the longitudinal association between body mass index (BMI) in childhood and pubertal development 5 years later among Brazilian students.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>This longitudinal study included 494 students aged 7–10 years. Data were collected in 2007 and 2012. BMI <i>z</i>-scores were calculated. Pubertal development was self-assessed using Tanner stages, and girls reported age at menarche. Structural equation modeling was used to assess the effects of the 2007 BMI on sexual maturation (SM) in 2012, adjusting for socioeconomic status (SES), birth weight, breastfeeding, physical activity, and dietary patterns (DP).</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>No statistically significant association between BMI and SM was observed in either sex. Among boys, higher adherence to DP IV (milk, coffee with milk, cheese, breads/biscuits) (<i>β</i> = −0.21) and higher SES (<i>β</i> = −0.21) were associated with normal/late SM. Among girls, a higher 2007 BMI <i>z</i>-score (<i>β</i> = −0.27) had a direct negative effect on age at menarche, while DP II (ultra-processed foods) showed an indirect negative effect on age at menarche, mediated by the 2007 BMI <i>z</i>-score (<i>β</i> = −0.05).</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusions</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>This study found that in girls, higher childhood BMI was associated with an earlier age at menarche. In boys, DP IV and SES were associated with normal/late SM. These findings highlight the significance of monitoring puberty timing at the population level and the need for sex-sensitive, prospective research to elucidate the determinants of earlier puberty, especially in low- and middle-income countries.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":50809,"journal":{"name":"American Journal of Human Biology","volume":"38 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-03-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147460815","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Tiago Rodrigues de Lima, Mateus Augusto Bim, Jean Carlos Parmigiani De Marco, Isadora Gonzaga, Clair Costa Miranda, Andreia Pelegrini
{"title":"Response to the Letter to the Editor by Barış Özener Entitled: Taxonomic Legacies and Biological Diversity: Reflections on Terminology in “Racial and Ethnic Differences in Bone Mass in Pediatric Populations”","authors":"Tiago Rodrigues de Lima, Mateus Augusto Bim, Jean Carlos Parmigiani De Marco, Isadora Gonzaga, Clair Costa Miranda, Andreia Pelegrini","doi":"10.1002/ajhb.70240","DOIUrl":"10.1002/ajhb.70240","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":50809,"journal":{"name":"American Journal of Human Biology","volume":"38 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-03-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147460860","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Why Are Hindu Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe Children Still at Higher Risk of Anthropometric Failure Than Upper-Caste Children in India? A Chronological Analysis, 2005–06 to 2019–21","authors":"Pritam Ghosh","doi":"10.1002/ajhb.70221","DOIUrl":"10.1002/ajhb.70221","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Background and Objectives</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Caste division and socioeconomic deprivation among marginalized communities in Indian Hindu society, since the pre-independence period, necessitate further investigation into the inequality in undernutrition prevalence between upper caste (UC) and marginalized children. This study aims to estimate the gap in overall undernutrition prevalence between UC and Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe (SC/ST) children in traditional Hindu society from 2005 to 2021. Additionally, it seeks to quantify the contributions of various factors—including child, maternal, household, and regional backgrounds—in explaining the gap of undernutrition between UC and marginalized children over the past 15 years.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>The study employed three rounds of the National Family Health Survey Data (NFHS-3, 4, and 5) and estimated the prevalence of undernutrition using the Composite Index of Anthropometric Failure (CIAF). The Fairlie decomposition method was utilized to estimate persisting inequality and quantified contributions of different background variables in explaining the inequality between UC and SC/ST children in the prevalence of CIAF.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Although the CIAF gap between Hindu UC and SC/ST children has declined from 2005–2006 to 2019–2021, it remains substantial, falling from 19.28% to 14.67% points between Hindu UC and SC, and from 22.46% to 18.42% points between Hindu UC and ST from 2005–2006 to 2019–2021. The influence of background variables in explaining the CIAF gap between Hindu UC and SC/ST children has declined from 2005–2006 to 2019–2021, indicating an increasing impact of unmeasured determinants over time. This study also highlights the substantial roles of household socioeconomic status, maternal education, household WASH conditions, child anemia levels, and birth order in explaining the CIAF gap between Hindu UC and SC/ST children over the past decade.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusions</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>The outcome of the study suggests interventians to reduce socioeconomic inequality between UC and SC/ST sections and adequate measures to improve mothers' education level, household WASH conditions, and childhood anemia among marginalized sections for reducing inter-group differences in the prevalence of childhood undernutrition in India.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":50809,"journal":{"name":"American Journal of Human Biology","volume":"38 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-03-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147445832","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}