Genetic variants for skin color in African Americans linked to vitamin D deficiency

https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2021-02/coh-gvf021121.php

 

News Release 18-Feb-2021
The genome-wide association study paves a path where one day doctors could leverage information on a patient's genetics, skin color and lifestyle to better prescribe the correct dose of vitamin D supplementation to decrease the risk of certain cancers
City of Hope

 

One day physicians may be able to look at an African American's skin color and, with the help of other determinants, know if prescribing vitamin D supplements would lower that person's risk of getting cancers of the prostate, colon, rectum or breast.

"We should not shy from this new study looking at the genetics of skin color and its effects on vitamin D deficiency because being 'colorblind' is what has led to the widespread health disparities that we as a society are now trying to address," said Rick Kittles, Ph.D., director of the Division of Health Equities at Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, a world-renowned independent research and treatment center for cancer, diabetes and other life-threatening diseases.

"Skin color has strong social and biological significance -- social because of race and racism and biological because over 70% of African Americans are vitamin D deficient, resulting in increased risk for cancer and cardiovascular disease," Kittles added. Notably, the difference in cancer death rates between African Americans and whites is 14%.


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Studies have shown that individuals with darker skin pigmentation require longer or more intense ultraviolet radiation exposure to synthesize sufficient levels of vitamin D. In other words, if you have darker skin, you tend to make less vitamin D in the sun than people with lighter skin.

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