Centenarians have good Vitamin D Receptor genes (or take lots of vitamin D)

Created March 2016

Impact of vitamin D receptor polymorphisms in centenarians

Cristina Gussago , Beatrice Arosio , Franca Rosa Guerini, Evelyn Ferri, Andrea Saul Costa, Martina Casati, Elisa Mariadele Bollini, Francesco Ronchetti, Elena Colombo and 3 more

Endocrine, pp 1-7, First online: 08 March 2016

Vitamin D is a seco-sterol produced endogenously in the skin or obtained from certain foods. It exerts its action through binding to intracellular vitamin D receptor (VDR). Lately, the role of vitamin D has been revised regarding its potential advantage on delaying the process of aging. The aim of this study was to assess the contribution of VDR gene polymorphisms in healthy aging and longevity.

We evaluated the frequency of four polymorphisms of the VDR gene (FokI, BsmI, ApaI, and TaqI) in centenarians (102 subjects, mean age: 102.3 ± 0.3 years), compared to septuagenarians (163 subjects, mean age: 73.0 ± 0.6 years) and we analyzed a variety of pathophysiologically relevant functions in centenarians. BsmI and ApaI provided a significant association with longevity: there was a highly significant difference in the frequency of

BsmI genotypes (p = 0.037),
ApaI genotypes (p = 0.022), and
ApaI alleles (p = 0.050)

in centenarians versus septuagenarians. Furthermore, we found a significant correlation of all the VDR gene polymorphisms in centenarians with some measured variables such as

hand grip strength,
body mass index,
blood pressure,
HDL cholesterol, and
mini-mental state examination.

We also found a correlation with the prevalence of medical history of

hypertension,
acute myocardial infarction,
angina,
venous insufficiency,
dementia,
chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and
arthrosis.

In conclusion, this study proposes a new scenario in which the variability of the VDR gene is relevant in the aging process and emphasizes the role of VDR genetic background in determining healthy aging.

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Personal note: My 103.5 year-old father-in-law, Ken, is very healthy and now takes 50,000 IU of vitamin D every 3 days (average 16,700 IU daily) along with Magnesium, Omega-3 and Vitamin K2 co-factors along with reduced Calcium. I have no idea about his VDR genes, but studies have shown than VDR gene problems do not completely block vitamin D, but rather just require more vitamin D For the past 60 years Ken has daily taken Omega-3 (flax meal) and Iodine (Kelp) and exercised. For only the past 6 years has Ken been taking vitamin D. See also VitaminDWiki * Benefits of Vitamin D often limited by genes * Vitamin D level can be high, but little benefit: due to kidney, genes, low Magnesium etc. * Vitamin D dose size needed – VitD testing tells only a portion of the story – Jan 2016 * Genes and Vitamin D – literature review – Dec 2015 * Some of Us May Need More Vitamin D Than Others - Sept 2015 * Off topic – Caregiving of seniors at home – helpful hints

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