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Maternal vitamin D predominates over genetic factors in determining neonatal circulating vitamin D concentrations

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posted on 2012-07-01, 00:00 authored by Boris Novakovic, John C Galati, Anna Chen, Ruth Morley, Jeffrey CraigJeffrey Craig, Richard Saffery
BACKGROUND: There are multiple potential regulators of neonatal vitamin D status of environmental, genetic, and epigenetic origins. The relation between these factors and circulating neonatal vitamin D has yet to be fully characterized. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to examine the relative contribution of genetic factors, maternal circulating 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] concentrations, and the placental methylation level of the gene that encodes the primary catabolic enzyme of active vitamin D [25(OH)D-24-hydroxylase encoded by CYP24A1] to neonatal 25(OH)D concentrations. DESIGN: We used the classical twin study design to determine the genetic contribution to neonatal 25(OH)D. A total of 86 twin pairs (32 monozygotic and 54 dizygotic twin pairs) were included in this study. Serum 25(OH)D was measured by using a 25(OH)D kit. CYP24A1 promoter DNA methylation was measured by means of matrix-assisted laser desorption time-of-flight mass spectrometry. RESULTS: Maternal and neonatal 25(OH)D showed a strong association (R² = 0.19). Monozygotic and dizygotic within-pair serum 25(OH)D correlations were similar (R² = 0.71 and 0.67, respectively), which suggested no genetic effect. Placental CYP24A1 methylation did not show an association with maternal or neonatal 25(OH)D concentrations. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that maternal circulating 25(OH)D is the most significant regulator of neonatal circulating 25(OH)D concentrations, with underlying genetic factors playing a limited role. The placental methylation of the CYP24A1 promoter appears subject to a genetic influence, although no evidence of a relation between the methylation level of this gene and circulating maternal or neonatal 25(OH)D was apparent.

History

Journal

American journal of clinical nutrition

Volume

96

Pagination

188-195

Location

Oxford, Eng.

Open access

  • Yes

ISSN

0002-9165

eISSN

1938-3207

Language

eng

Publication classification

C1.1 Refereed article in a scholarly journal

Copyright notice

2012, American Society for Nutrition

Issue

1

Publisher

Oxford University Press