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Cited by 1,087Vitamin D Research StudiesParathyroid Disorders and TreatmentsBone health and osteoporosis research

Vitamin D–Binding Protein and Vitamin D Status of Black Americans and White Americans

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Powe, Camille E., Evans, Michele K., Wenger, Julia, Zonderman, Alan B., Berg, Anders H., Nalls, Michael, Tamez, Hector, Zhang, Dongsheng +4 more·2013·New England Journal of Medicine
DOI 10.1056/nejmoa1306357PMC PMC4030388
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Abstract

BACKGROUND: Low levels of total 25-hydroxyvitamin D are common among black Americans. Vitamin D-binding protein has not been considered in the assessment of vitamin D deficiency. METHODS: In the Healthy Aging in Neighborhoods of Diversity across the Life Span cohort of blacks and whites (2085 participants), we measured levels of total 25-hydroxyvitamin D, vitamin D-binding protein, and parathyroid hormone as well as bone mineral density (BMD). We genotyped study participants for two common polymorphisms in the vitamin D-binding protein gene (rs7041 and rs4588). We estimated levels of bioavailable 25-hydroxyvitamin D in homozygous participants. RESULTS: Mean (±SE) levels of both total 25-hydroxyvitamin D and vitamin D-binding protein were lower in blacks than in whites (total 25-hydroxyvitamin D, 15.6±0.2 ng per milliliter vs. 25.8±0.4 ng per milliliter, P<0.001; vitamin D-binding protein, 168±3 μg per milliliter vs. 337±5 μg per milliliter, P<0.001). Genetic polymorphisms independently appeared to explain 79.4% and 9.9% of the variation in levels of vitamin D-binding protein and total 25-hydroxyvitamin D, respectively. BMD was higher in blacks than in whites (1.05±0.01 g per square centimeter vs. 0.94±0.01 g per square centimeter, P<0.001). Levels of parathyroid hormone increased with decreasing levels of total or bioavailable 25-hydroxyvitamin D (P<0.001 for both relationships), yet within each quintile of parathyroid hormone concentration, blacks had significantly lower levels of total 25-hydroxyvitamin D than whites. Among homozygous participants, blacks and whites had similar levels of bioavailable 25-hydroxyvitamin D overall (2.9±0.1 ng per milliliter and 3.1±0.1 ng per milliliter, respectively; P=0.71) and within quintiles of parathyroid hormone concentration. CONCLUSIONS: Community-dwelling black Americans, as compared with whites, had low levels of total 25-hydroxyvitamin D and vitamin D-binding protein, resulting in similar concentrations of estimated bioavailable 25-hydroxyvitamin D. Racial differences in the prevalence of common genetic polymorphisms provide a likely explanation for this observation. (Funded by the National Institute on Aging and others.).

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  • Genetic variation in DBP has been deemed the main argument for lower levels of both DBP and 25(OH)D in subjects of African versus European origin, while levels of bioavailable 25(OH)D were similar in both ethnic groups.

    “This genetic variation has been deemed the main argument for the observation of lower levels of both DBP and 25(OH)D in subjects of African versus European origin, while levels of bioavailable 25(OH)D were similar in both ethnic groups [80].”

    From Role of sex hormone-binding globulin in the free hormone hypothesis and the relevance of free testosterone in androgen physiology (2022) · cites this paper as [80]

    The Abstract Results report lower DBP and total 25(OH)D in black Americans than in white Americans, and similar bioavailable 25(OH)D among homozygous participants. The Discussion links lower DBP to a prevalent genetic variant, but says DBP levels only partially explain the racial difference in total 25(OH)D; calling genetic variation the main explanation for both lower levels overstates the finding. Page numbers are not available in our copy. (LLM, conf=0.85)

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Authors
Powe, C. E., Evans, M. K., Wenger, J., Zonderman, A. B., Berg, A. H., Nalls, M., Tamez, H., Zhang, D., Bhan, I., Karumanchi, S. A., Powe, N. R., & Thadhani, R.
Affiliations
  • Brigham and Women's Hospital (US)
  • National Institutes of Health (US)
  • Massachusetts General Hospital (US)
  • Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (US)
  • San Francisco General Hospital (US)
ORCID
Venue
New England Journal of Medicine
Publisher
Massachusetts Medical Society
Published
2013-11-21
Volume
369
Issue
21
Pages
1991-2000
ISSN
  • 0028-4793 (ISSN-L)
  • 1533-4406
DOI
10.1056/nejmoa1306357
PMC
PMC4030388
OpenAlex
W2161519087
Cited by
1,087
References
3
Citations by year
2026: 29 · 2025: 41 · 2024: 39 · 2023: 68 · 2022: 55 · 2021: 88 · 2020: 72 · 2019: 91 · 2018: 103 · 2017: 103 · 2016: 125 · 2015: 138 · 2014: 127 · 2013: 6 · 2012: 1
FWCI
98.93
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • New England Journal of Medicine (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (acceptedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
  • eScholarship (California Digital Library) (submittedVersion)
Funders
  • Howard Hughes Medical Institute
  • National Institutes of Health (Z01-AG000513)
  • National Institute on Aging (ZIAAG000513)
  • National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (K24DK094872, R01DK094486)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Pathology and Forensic Medicine › Vitamin D Research Studies
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Nephrology › Parathyroid Disorders and Treatments
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Orthopedics and Sports Medicine › Bone health and osteoporosis research
Keywords
vitamin D binding protein, vitamin D status, 25-hydroxyvitamin D, vitamin D deficiency, racial differences, African Americans, White Americans, parathyroid hormone, bone mineral density, rs7041, rs4588, bioavailable vitamin D
MeSH terms
Biological Availability, Black or African American, Cross-Sectional Studies, Female, Genotype, Health Surveys, Homozygote, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Parathyroid Hormone, Polymorphism, Genetic, United States, Vitamin D, Vitamin D-Binding Protein, Bone Density, White People

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