Genomic and metabolomic patterns segregate with responses to calcium and vitamin D supplementation

Br J Nutr. 2011 Jan;105(1):71-9. doi: 10.1017/S0007114510003065. Epub 2010 Aug 23.

Abstract

Inter-individual response differences to vitamin D and Ca supplementation may be under genetic control through vitamin D and oestrogen receptor genes, which may influence their absorption and/or metabolism. Metabolomic studies on blood and urine from subjects supplemented with Ca and vitamin D reveal different metabolic profiles that segregate with genotype. Genotyping was performed for oestrogen receptor 1 gene (ESR1) and vitamin D receptor gene (VDR) in fifty-six postmenopausal women. Thirty-six women were classified as low bone density as determined by a heel ultrasound scan and twenty women had normal bone density acting as 'controls'. Those with low bone density (LBD) were supplemented with oral Ca and vitamin D and were classified according to whether they were 'responders' or 'non-responders' according to biochemical results before and after therapy compared to controls receiving no supplementation. Metabolomic studies on serum and urine were done for the three groups at 0 and 3 months of therapy using NMR spectroscopy with pattern recognition. The 'non-responder' group showed a higher frequency of polymorphisms in the ESR1 (codons 10 and 325) and VDR (Bsm1 and Taq1), compared with to the 'responders'. The wild-type genotype for Fok1 was more frequent in those with LBD (70 %) compared with the control group (10 %). Distinctive patterns of metabolites were displayed by NMR studies at baseline and 3 months of post-treatment, segregating responders from non-responders and controls. Identification of potential 'non-responders' to vitamin D and Ca, before therapy, based on a genomic and/or metabolomic profile would allow targeted selection of optimal therapy on an individual basis.

Publication types

  • Controlled Clinical Trial

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Bone Density / genetics*
  • Bone Density / physiology
  • Calcium, Dietary / administration & dosage
  • Calcium, Dietary / metabolism*
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Dietary Supplements
  • Estrogen Receptor alpha / genetics*
  • Female
  • Genome
  • Genotype
  • Humans
  • Intestinal Absorption
  • Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy
  • Metabolome
  • Middle Aged
  • Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal / genetics*
  • Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal / metabolism
  • Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal / pathology
  • Pharmacogenetics
  • Polymorphism, Genetic*
  • Prospective Studies
  • Receptors, Calcitriol / genetics*
  • Vitamin D / administration & dosage
  • Vitamin D / genetics
  • Vitamin D / metabolism*

Substances

  • Calcium, Dietary
  • Estrogen Receptor alpha
  • Receptors, Calcitriol
  • Vitamin D