251 | id == 251
251 | category_id == 14
251 | category_order == 12
251 | category_name == Nutrition
251 | category_color == #C47AC0
251 | slug == GC-vitamin-D-deficiency
251 | title == Can Genes Contribute to Vitamin D Deficiency? (GC)
251 | meta_description == The GC gene encodes the vitamin D-binding protein. Click to learn about its link with vitamin D status & health outcomes.
251 | summary == <p style="text-align:justify"><strong>According to the latest findings, your genes are among the top factors influencing your vitamin D status. Variants in the GC gene have shown a robust link with vitamin D deficiency &mdash; read on to learn more and get tailored tips!</strong></p>
251 | overall_score_text == our Vitamin D Status Score (Based on GC Gene)
251 | image == https://sd-selfdecode-assets-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/background/GC-VDBP--Nutrition-Vitamin-D-requirements.jpg
251 | author_id == 9
251 | author_name == Aleksa Ristic
251 | author_title == MS (Pharmacy)
251 | author_order == 45
251 | author_photo == https://sd-selfdecode-assets-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/author-photo/Aleksa.jpg
251 | author_intro == <p><strong>Aleksa received his MS in Pharmacy from the University of Belgrade, his master thesis focusing on protein sources in plant-based diets.</strong>&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>    <p>Aleksa is passionate about herbal pharmacy, nutrition, and functional medicine. He found a way to merge his two biggest passions&mdash;writing and health&mdash;and use them for noble purposes. His mission is to bridge the gap between science and everyday life, helping readers improve their health and feel better.</p>
251 | reviewer_id == 14
251 | reviewer_name == Shany Lahan
251 | reviewer_title == MS (Neuroscience)
251 | medical_reviewer_id == 11
251 | medical_reviewer_name == Puya Yazdi
251 | medical_reviewer_title == MD
251 | publish_date == 2020
251 | publish_date == 7
251 | publish_date == 31
251 | avg_rating == 5.0
251 | tags_id == 233
251 | tags_name == Bone Health
251 | tags_id == 560
251 | tags_name == Calcium
251 | tags_id == 465
251 | tags_name == Dietary protein
251 | tags_id == 559
251 | tags_name == GC gene
251 | tags_id == 95
251 | tags_name == Immune System
251 | tags_id == 261
251 | tags_name == nutrition
251 | tags_id == 245
251 | tags_name == Sunlight
251 | tags_id == 232
251 | tags_name == Vitamin D
251 | tags_id == 561
251 | tags_name == Vitamin D-Binding Protein
251 | permissions_favorite == False
251 | permissions_rate == False
251 | content_article == <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">This article is for informational purposes only. None of the information here should be taken as medical advice. If you are struggling to find an optimal diet and maintain metabolic health, seek medical help. </span></em><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Keep in mind that these results are based on association studies, which are correlative and aren&rsquo;t necessarily causative. Any genetic variant will typically contribute only a small proportion to the overall risk of the condition, and non-genetic factors play a large role as well. Therefore, just because you have one of these genotypes does not necessarily mean you are at an increased risk of developing this condition!</span></em></p> <h2><strong>The GC Gene in Vitamin D Metabolism</strong></h2> <h3><strong>Vitamin D Functions &amp; Deficiency</strong></h3> <p><a href="http://selfhacked.com/blog/35proven-health-benefits-vitamin-d-part-1/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Vitamin D</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> is crucial for many functions and processes, such as [</span><a href="https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminD-HealthProfessional/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19951695"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">]:</span></p> <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/calcium-101/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Calcium</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> absorption and bone health</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Immunity</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Heart health</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Joint health</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Cancer prevention</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Blood sugar balance</span></li> </ul> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">According to some estimates, one billion people worldwide have vitamin D deficiency, while nearly half of the world's population has insufficient levels [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3356951/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Doctors define vitamin D deficiency as blood levels &lt;20 ng/mL (&lt;50 nmol/L) and insufficiency as &lt;30 ng/mL (&lt;70 nmol/L) [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3510313/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3690793/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK532266/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].&nbsp;</span></p> <p><span style="background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;">Vitamin D is essential for bone health, immunity, heart health, and more. Vitamin D deficiency, defined as blood levels &lt;20 ng/mL, is a global health concern.</span></p> <h3><strong>The Role of GC</strong></h3> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">GC </span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">gene encodes the </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">vitamin D-binding protein</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> (DBP). This protein enables the storage, transport, and delivery of vitamin D and its metabolites to target organs [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/gene/2638"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15868280/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19116321/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Studies have found a direct link between DBP and vitamin D blood levels, confirming a key role of this protein in vitamin D metabolism. They have also discussed the importance and diagnostic value of DBP levels in different conditions associated with vitamin D status, including thyroid disorders, diabetes, and </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/causes-symptoms-diagnosis-risk-factors-of-multiple-sclerosis/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">multiple sclerosis</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4211663/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16697362/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <h2><strong>The Link Between GC Variants &amp; Vitamin D Status</strong></h2> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Given the importance of </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">GC </span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">for vitamin D metabolism, scientists have studied the potential link between variants or SNPs in this gene and vitamin D blood levels. Let's see what they found!</span></p> <h3><strong>Rs2282679</strong></h3> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In a meta-analysis of 15 clinical trials and over 30,000 European descendants, </span><a href="../../../snp/rs2282679/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">rs2282679</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> showed the strongest association with vitamin D status. The minor &ldquo;G&rdquo; allele correlated with 63% and 49% higher odds of vitamin D insufficiency and deficiency, respectively [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3086761/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">According to the authors, rs2282679 had the same impact on vitamin D levels as supplementation, and its impact was slightly lower than seasonal variations (sun exposure)!</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Another SNP, </span><a href="../../../snp/rs4588/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">rs4588</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, showed comparable effects due to a nearly perfect overlap with rs2282679, so it wasn&rsquo;t an independent genetic factor [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3086761/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Among 4,476 Thai individuals, rs2282679-G was associated with 80% higher odds of vitamin D deficiency, independent of age, weight and other risk factors [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25370324/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">This variant may also influence the outcomes of vitamin D supplementation during pregnancy; in 682 white women, each &ldquo;T&rdquo; allele correlated with 4.2 nmol/L higher vitamin D levels upon delivery [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5546866/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;">The &ldquo;G&rdquo; allele at rs2282679 has shown a strong correlation with vitamin D deficiency, independent of age, race, and different risk factors.</span></p> <h3><strong>Rs7041</strong></h3> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Another SNP with a meaningful impact on vitamin D status is </span><a href="../../../snp/rs7041/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">rs7041</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">. The above meta-analysis and another review of 17 studies confirmed the association between the &ldquo;A&rdquo; allele and lower vitamin D levels [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3086761/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20363324/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In 448 vitamin D-deficient Chinese people, variants including rs7041 had a stronger influence on supplementation (2000 IU/day) outcomes than age, sex, and other factors. People with the "C" allele had significantly higher vitamin D levels [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27768857/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">A study of 234 patients from Saudi Arabia came to a similar conclusion: those carrying the "A" allele at rs7041 were 3.7 times more likely to remain vitamin D-deficient despite supplementation. All patients were receiving 1000 IU of vitamin D per day for four months, suggesting that people with rs7041-A may benefit from higher doses [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30959383/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;">The &ldquo;A&rdquo; allele at rs7041 is associated with lower vitamin D levels and reduced efficacy of supplementation with standard doses.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">A meta-analysis of 7,258 African and 1,361 Hispanic subjects replicated the link between the above variants and vitamin D levels in these ethnic groups. However, the variants have a more robust impact on people of European (Caucasian) ancestry [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6276579/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <h3><strong>Clinical Significance</strong></h3> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In two trials of nearly 12,000 participants, rs2282679 showed no association with vitamin D-related conditions, such as diabetes, heart disease, osteoporosis, and cancer [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4211663/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3359337/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">A meta-analysis of 28 studies confirmed the lack of association between </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">GC </span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">SNPs and different types of cancer [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26364161/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Among 6,181 older adults, rs7041 and rs4588 correlated with higher odds of osteoporosis, but only when dietary calcium intake was low (&lt;1 g/day) [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2729412/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In a trial of 414 ex-smokers, those with the &ldquo;AA&rdquo; genotype at rs7041 had 25% lower vitamin D levels and two times higher odds of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19996341?dopt=Abstract"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">]. The same genotype was associated with severe </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/natural-treatments-depression/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">depression</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> among 265 adults but only in combination with low-protein diets [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30184533/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;">Most studies observed no clinical significance of GC SNPs. However, under certain conditions, they may correlate with osteoporosis, lung disease, and depression.</span></p> <h3><strong>How It Works</strong></h3> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">As mentioned, Vitamin D Binding Protein (DBP) blood levels directly influence vitamin D status and metabolism. Variants in the </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">GC </span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">gene may interfere with vitamin D by changing gene expression and DBP levels.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Two studies of nearly 4,000 participants confirmed the link between rs2282679-G and lower DBP levels [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4211663/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1526017/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <h2><strong>Your GC Results for Vitamin D Levels</strong></h2> <p>*9915022351467662*</p> <h3><strong>SNP Summary and Table</strong></h3> <p><strong>Primary SNPs:</strong></p> <p><strong>GC </strong><a href="../../../snp/rs2282679/"><strong>rs2282679</strong></a></p> <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;G&rsquo; = associated with lower vitamin D levels and higher odds of deficiency</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;T&rsquo; = not associated with vitamin D levels</span></li> </ul> <p><strong>GC </strong><a href="../../../snp/rs4588/"><strong>rs4588</strong></a></p> <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;T&rsquo; = associated with lower vitamin D levels and higher odds of deficiency</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;G&rsquo; = not associated with vitamin D levels</span></li> </ul> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Population Frequency:</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> These two variants are almost always inherited together. Around 39% of European descendants carry one copy and 5% carry both copies of the &lsquo;problematic&rsquo; alleles (G and T, respectively). They are much less common in African populations (10%).</span></p> <p><strong>GC </strong><a href="../../../snp/rs7041/"><strong>rs7041</strong></a></p> <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;A&rsquo; = associated with lower vitamin D levels&nbsp;</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;C&rsquo; = not associated with vitamin D levels</span></li> </ul> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Population Frequency:</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> Around 50% of European descendants carry one copy and 16% carry both copies of the &ldquo;A&rdquo; allele. It&rsquo;s much more common in East Asian and African populations.</span></p> <p>*9520503125813382*</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2><strong>Recommendations to Boost Vitamin D Levels</strong></h2> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">In the following section, we&rsquo;ll outline complementary approaches that may help increase vitamin D levels. If you have a diagnosed deficiency, the below strategies are not meant to replace your standard medical treatment. Make sure to consult with your doctor before making any significant changes to your day-to-day routine.</span></em></p> <p>*8661400352236239*</p> <h3><span style="font-weight: 400;">Lifestyle</span></h3> <p><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/avoiding-sun-will-kill-14-proven-science-based-health-benefits-sun/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Sunlight</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> is your primary source of vitamin D, and the lack of sun exposure is the biggest risk factor for vitamin D deficiency. Most experts suggest you need 15-30 mins of daily sun exposure to produce sufficient vitamin D levels, but it greatly depends on [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3356951/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4536937/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">]:</span></p> <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Your skin color</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Latitude</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Time of the day</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Season</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Exposed skin surface</span></li> </ul> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">People with the discussed variants may want to go above the suggested minimum and spend more time in the sun. Just make sure to avoid getting sunburned, as that can negatively affect your skin health [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3897598/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7049620/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Moderate sun exposure has a myriad of benefits beyond vitamin D production, making it an essential part of a healthy lifestyle.</span></p> <p><span style="background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;">Spend more time in the sun to make up for your genetic effect, but make sure to avoid sunburns.</span></p> <h3><strong>Diet</strong></h3> <h4><strong>Vitamin D</strong></h4> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Unlike other nutrients, the amount of </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/vitamin-d-dosage-sources-deficiency-toxicity/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">vitamin D</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> in food is scarce. The best dietary sources include [</span><a href="https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminD-HealthProfessional/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">]:</span></p> <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Fatty fish</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><a href="https://www.selfhacked.com/blog/cod-liver-oil/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Cod liver oil</span></a></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Beef liver</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Egg yolks</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Dairy, if not sensitive</span></li> </ul> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Food manufacturers often fortify plant-based milk, dairy products, orange juice, and cereals with vitamin D. Mushrooms can also be a decent source, but only if exposed to UV light during cultivation [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK56061/#ch3.s2"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3897585/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">During long periods of insufficient sun exposure, dietary sources may not be enough to maintain optimal vitamin D status. That's particularly true for people genetically predisposed to lower levels of vitamin D [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4168313/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In addition to that, most foods provide vitamin D</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">2, </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">which is less potent than D</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">3</span><span style="font-weight: 400;"> produced by our body [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK56061/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;">Increase your intake of vitamin D-rich foods, but don&rsquo;t rely solely on them to maintain optimal levels.</span></p> <h4><strong>Calcium</strong></h4> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">As discussed, </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">GC </span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">variants may correlate with osteoporosis if dietary </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/calcium-101/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">calcium</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> intake is low. To prevent the negative impact of your genes, try to consume a variety of calcium-rich foods, such as [</span><a href="https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Calcium-HealthProfessional/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">]:</span></p> <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Sea fish (sardines, salmon)</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Tofu (made with calcium sulfate)</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Dark leafy greens</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Fortified products</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Dairy, if not sensitive</span></li> </ul> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Calcium supplements are popular, but recent evidence points to their limited bone health benefits and potential adverse effects on the heart and blood vessels. Hence, you may want to stick with food sources [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4125316/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <h4><strong>Protein</strong></h4> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">According to limited clinical evidence, </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">GC </span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">variants and low-protein diets can be a dangerous combination for mental health [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30184533/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">]. A rat study has offered a potential explanation: diets low in protein may reduce DBP blood levels and thus negatively affect genetic predisposition [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12144717/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Try to consume a variety of good protein sources, such as meat, eggs, nuts, seeds &amp; legumes [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK218739/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;">Consume a variety of calcium- and protein-rich foods to lessen the impact of your GC variants.</span></p> <h3><strong>Supplements</strong></h3> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Vitamin D supplementation may be a sensible option for most people during the periods of inadequate sunlight exposure (e.g., during the winter). However, for those with </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">GC </span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">variants, a typical daily dose of 1000 IU may not suffice [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3356951/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30959383/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Work with your doctor to determine the need for vitamin D supplementation and your optimal dosage, based on genes and other factors. Just make sure not to go above the limit of 4000 IU/day [</span><a href="https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminD-HealthProfessional/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">]. A few additional notes to keep in mind:</span></p> <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Most multivitamins already contain 400 IU of vitamin D.</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Vitamin D</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">3</span><span style="font-weight: 400;"> is more potent and more suitable for supplementation than D</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">2.</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Vitamin D is fat-soluble, so take it with fats to increase absorption.</span></li> </ul> <p><span style="background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;">Vitamin D supplementation may help counteract your genetic risk. Work with your doctor to determine the optimal dosage.</span></p>
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251 | content_learn_more_9520503125813382_text == Based on the variants we looked at, your GC gene is associated with slightly lower vitamin D levels. However, this doesn't necessarily reflect your overall vitamin D status—just one gene related to it. Get more sunlight, consume vitamin D-rich foods, and follow other personalized recommendations to reduce the impact of your genes. Keep reading to find out more.
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rsIDs = rs4588,rs2282679,rs7041
rsStatus = rs4588,GC,chr4,71752606,G,A,T,,31,0,Normal
rsStatus = rs2282679,GC,chr4,71742666,T,G,,,15,12,HET
rsStatus = rs7041,GC,chr4,71752617,A,C,T,,30,1,HET
