Vitamin D- More than just your bones
Written By: Milos Pokimica
Medically Reviewed by: Dr. Xiùying Wáng, M.D.
Updated June 9, 2023For most of our evolution, we were slim in a state of constant hunger and constant physical activity, naked (meaning exposed to the sun with excessive vitamin D production), and eating mostly vegan food. This was the case for all of our ancestor species and that means the time period of 50 million years. Adaptation is the development that the organism goes through in order to become accustomed to an environment. It is linked to evolution because it is a long process. One that occurs over many generations. Genetic change is what occurs. The genetic change that is the result of successful adaptation will always be beneficial to an organism. For example, before snakes slithered, they had regular limbs. They were similar to lizards. In order to fit into small holes in the ground in which they could hide from predators, they lost their legs. It may also happen that the environment changes very little and that species do not need to adapt at all. Examples of this can be seen in so-called living fossils like jellyfish that evolved 550 million years ago or nautilus marine mollusks that remained largely unchanged for 500 million years. Biologists say that the oldest living animals in the world today are ctenophores that first emerged 700 million years ago. Also, variations in the habitat may happen almost immediately, resulting in species growing less and less well adapted and eventually going extinct.
It has been theorized that dark skin pigmentation was the original condition for the genus Homo, including Homo sapiens (Jablonski et al., 2017). The problem arose when Homo sapiens moved into areas of low UV radiation. Light skin pigmentation is nothing more than a coping mechanism for our bodies for constant vitamin D shortages. Vitamin D is an essential vitamin with different functions, and only one of them is calcium development. On another hand, the light-skinned individuals who will go back to live near the equator will have an increased risk of folate depletion. Folate depletion is associated with numerous types of cancers, especially skin cancer, DNA damage, and congenital disabilities. Just entering a plane to go to a habitat that we are not adapted for and doing activities like sunbathing on the beach can cause the risk of skin cancer. It would be a good idea to drink beet juice while you are on vacation. It has the highest level of folate from all other food sources and folate is not the same substance as folic acid. Supplements have folic acid, and plants have folate. When they tested folic acid on rats their livers were able to convert folic acid into folate without any problems but we are not rats, and our liver is only able to convert a maximum of 400mg a day, so go with the beets and one 400 mg tablet.
When it comes to skin color, three separate genes produce light skin. European and also East Asian skin evolved to be much lighter only during the last 8000 years. The first modern humans to initially settle in Europe about 40,000 years ago are presumed to have had dark skin. Dark skin is beneficial in the sunny climate of Africa. Early hunter-gatherers around 8500 years ago, in Spain, and central Europe also had darker skin. Only in the far north where there are low light levels the environment will favor pale skin.
When we look at the fossil record, then there is a different picture of hunter-gatherers in the far north. When examined all of the seven people from the 7700-year-old Motala archaeological site in southern Sweden (so-called “Tomb of the Sunken Skulls”), all had light skin gene variants (Günther et al., 2018). They also had a specific gene, HERC2/OCA2, which is responsible for blond hair, pale skin, and blue eyes.
Around 8000 years ago in the far north ancient hunter-gatherers were pale and blue-eyed, but still, all of those people living in central and southern Europe still had darker skin. It was only after the first farmers from the Near East arrived in Europe that the situation changed. They carried genes for light skin. As they have been interbreeding and mixing with the indigenous dark-skinned hunter-gatherers, one of their light-skin genes swept through Europe presumably because of the favorable environmental conditions that lack the sunny climate of Africa. It was only around 8000 years ago that people from the central and southern parts of Europe started to have lighter skin. Lack of sun, especially during winter, forced the adaptation and so natural selection has favored genetic adaptations to that problem by a paling of the skin that absorbs UV more efficiently. The second line in adaptations to colder climates was also a favoring of lactose tolerance. Vitamin D can be naturally found in some amount of regular milk.
Vitamin D is not a vitamin. It is a prohormone, a steroid with a hormone-like activity that regulates about 3% of the human genome from calcium metabolism, muscular function, immune system regulation, and many more functions that are essential for life. (Carlberg, 2019).
The current medical knowledge associates vitamin D deficiency with contributing to the development of seventeen different autoimmune diseases, periodontal disease, cancers, congenital disabilities, stroke, and heart disease. Vitamin D insufficiency and in worse cases even deficiency is a problem that has spread to the global level now. And why? Because we changed our habitat and started to wear clothes. If you are a Muslim woman in a Sharia law country, it does not matter if you live in a sunny climate. If you are a black African and you start to live the modern way of life, meaning spending most of your time indoors, and in cars wearing t-shirts and pans you will be vitamin D deficient. Despite substantial daily sunlight availability in Africa and the Middle East, people living in these regions are often vitamin D insufficient or deficient ranging from 5% to 80%. Vitamin D insufficiency is rampant among African Americans. Even young, healthy blacks do not achieve optimal concentrations at any time of the year.
White people are more adept to the northern climate. Black people are more adept at the southern latitudes. Well at least before the Modern Era. Now we are not adapted to any climate. Why? Because we do not run naked not even during the summer, so we do not get any vitamin D for most of the year. We live indoors. Even being naked and exposed to the sunlight during summer was not enough for the northern geographical latitudes to sustain adequate vitamin D levels for the entire year around. Our physiology is adapted by paling our skin. Modern technology-driven conditions are 10-times worst. In the future probably we will all have albinism as a result of adaptation if nothing is changed.
Groups of Neanderthals were pale too. Some of them had more pigment, some less, and some were pale and had red hair.
If you do not believe this, we will go scientific. There is the receptor that activates melanin, the pigment that gives skin, hair, and eyes their color. It is known as melanin-activating peptide receptor melanocortin 1 (MC1R). It is present on the surface of melanocytes (cells that produce melanin). Melanocytes can make two different types of melanin. One is called eumelanin, and the other is pheomelanin. MC1R is a receptor that will decide which pigment will be produced. It acts as a switch. It will decide whether will it be red-and-yellow pigment pheomelanin or black-and-brown pigment eumelanin. In one genetic study, the scientific team led by Holger Römpler of Harvard University extracted and sequenced the MC1R gene from the bones of a 43,000-year-old Neanderthal from El Sidrón, Spain, and a 50,000-year-old one from Monti Lessini, Italy (Lalueza-Fox et al., 2007). The two Neanderthal samples both showed a point mutation that is not present in modern humans. If such a mutation is induced in human cells, it will cause impaired MC1R activity. The mutation would cause red hair and pale skin in modern humans. To make sure that the MC1R gene mutation was not due to contamination of the sample from modern humans, the scientists tested around 4,000 people. None of the people tested had it. This genetic study showed that both Homo sapiens and Neanderthal had reached the same genetic adaptation by two different evolutionary pathways. Anthropologists had predicted a long time ago that due to the environment Neanderthals might have evolved to have pale skin. The work by Römpler and colleagues offers the first scientific evidence to support this thesis. So it is not that we inherited the blond gene from Neanderthals it is that evolution works similarly in similar conditions. When Neanderthals went into northern climates adaptation did the rest.
Today we have modern technology, an indoor lifestyle, and all of the rest of the fancy new changes in the habitat that are not congruent with our physiology, and health problems will occur as a consequence of maladaptation.
References:
- Jablonski, N. G., & Chaplin, G. (2017). The colours of humanity: the evolution of pigmentation in the human lineage. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B, 372(1724), 20160349. https://doi.org/10.1098/rstb.2016.0349
- Günther, T., Malmström, H., Svensson, E. M., Omrak, A., Sánchez-Quinto, F., Kılınç, G. M., Krzewińska, M., Eriksson, G., Fraser, M., Edlund, H., Munters, A. R., Coutinho, A., Simões, L. G., Vicente, M., Sjölander, A., Jansen Sellevold, B., Jørgensen, R., Claes, P., Shriver, M. D., Valdiosera, C., … Jakobsson, M. (2018). Population genomics of Mesolithic Scandinavia: Investigating early postglacial migration routes and high-latitude adaptation. PLoS biology, 16(1), e2003703. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pbio.2003703
- Carlberg C. (2019). Nutrigenomics of Vitamin D. Nutrients, 11(3), 676. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu11030676
- Lalueza-Fox, C., Römpler, H., Caramelli, D., Stäubert, C., Catalano, G., Hughes, D., Rohland, N., Pilli, E., Longo, L., Condemi, S., de la Rasilla, M., Fortea, J., Rosas, A., Stoneking, M., Schöneberg, T., Bertranpetit, J., & Hofreiter, M. (2007). A melanocortin 1 receptor allele suggests varying pigmentation among Neanderthals. Science (New York, N.Y.), 318(5855), 1453–1455. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1147417
- Palacios, C., & Gonzalez, L. (2014). Is vitamin D deficiency a major global public health problem?. The Journal of steroid biochemistry and molecular biology, 144 Pt A, 138–145. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsbmb.2013.11.003
Related Posts
Do you have any questions about nutrition and health?
I would love to hear from you and answer them in my next post. I appreciate your input and opinion and I look forward to hearing from you soon. I also invite you to follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest for more diet, nutrition, and health content. You can leave a comment there and connect with other health enthusiasts, share your tips and experiences, and get support and encouragement from our team and community.
I hope that this post was informative and enjoyable for you and that you are prepared to apply the insights you learned. If you found this post helpful, please share it with your friends and family who might also benefit from it. You never know who might need some guidance and support on their health journey.
– You Might Also Like –
Learn About Nutrition
Milos Pokimica is a doctor of natural medicine, clinical nutritionist, medical health and nutrition writer, and nutritional science advisor. Author of the book series Go Vegan? Review of Science, he also operates the natural health website GoVeganWay.com
Medical Disclaimer
GoVeganWay.com brings you reviews of the latest nutrition and health-related research. The information provided represents the personal opinion of the author and is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. The information provided is for informational purposes only and is not intended to serve as a substitute for the consultation, diagnosis, and/or medical treatment of a qualified physician or healthcare provider.NEVER DISREGARD PROFESSIONAL MEDICAL ADVICE OR DELAY SEEKING MEDICAL TREATMENT BECAUSE OF SOMETHING YOU HAVE READ ON OR ACCESSED THROUGH GoVeganWay.com
NEVER APPLY ANY LIFESTYLE CHANGES OR ANY CHANGES AT ALL AS A CONSEQUENCE OF SOMETHING YOU HAVE READ IN GoVeganWay.com BEFORE CONSULTING LICENCED MEDICAL PRACTITIONER.
In the event of a medical emergency, call a doctor or 911 immediately. GoVeganWay.com does not recommend or endorse any specific groups, organizations, tests, physicians, products, procedures, opinions, or other information that may be mentioned inside.
Editor Picks –
Milos Pokimica is a doctor of natural medicine, clinical nutritionist, medical health and nutrition writer, and nutritional science advisor. Author of the book series Go Vegan? Review of Science, he also operates the natural health website GoVeganWay.com
Latest Articles –
Plant Based News
-
Video Claiming Raw Milk Heals Lactose Intolerance Flagged As ‘False Information’
on March 14, 2024
-
This Vegan Chocolate Pie Is Unbelievably Easy To Make
on March 13, 2024
-
New York State Sues Meat Giant JBS Over ‘Greenwashing’ Claims
on March 13, 2024
-
‘Dragons Den’ Viewers Criticize ‘Cruelty-Free’ Goat Milk Skincare Range
on March 13, 2024
-
‘I Could Never Go Vegan’: How To Watch The Hugely Anticipated Documentary
on March 13, 2024
-
This Whole Katsu Cauliflower Is A Perfect Dinner Centerpiece
on March 12, 2024
-
How To Use Pickle Juice As A Marinade, Dressing, Or Sauce
on March 12, 2024
Top Health News — ScienceDaily
- Blast-related concussions linked to higher Alzheimer’s riskon March 14, 2024
U.S. veterans of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq who suffered mild traumatic brain injury from exposure to explosive blasts were found to have changes in cerebrospinal fluid proteins that are typically seen in people who develop Alzheimer’s disease, according to researchers.
- Tryptophan in diet, gut bacteria protect against E. coli infectionon March 13, 2024
Gut bacteria and a diet rich in the amino acid tryptophan can play a protective role against pathogenic E. coli, which can cause severe stomach upset, cramps, fever, intestinal bleeding and renal failure.
- Innovative approaches for addressing difficult topics in K-12 schoolson March 13, 2024
Three peer-reviewed journals have recently published research papers by Penn State’s Hammel Family Human Rights Initiative. The papers illustrate how the initiative’s programs help K-12 educators address difficult issues such as racism.
- Good news: The US maternal death rate is stable, not sky rocketing, as reportedon March 13, 2024
A new study challenges the prevailing view on the maternal death rate in the United States. The findings show that the rates of maternal death were stable between 1999-2002 and 2018-2021, instead of the dramatic upward trends previously reported. Additionally, the study indicates that direct obstetric causes of death declined over the last 20 years.
- Hope for treating sleep disorders, no pills requiredon March 13, 2024
Are sleeping pills the only solution for insomnia? Not according to a researcher who says that using self-guided digital behavioral therapy is an alternative solution that should be considered.
- Genetic condition haemochromatosis linked to higher levels of disease in older peopleon March 13, 2024
A largescale new study has found that some people whose genetics are linked to the common iron overload condition haemochromatosis have substantially greater levels of liver, musculoskeletal and brain disease than previously reported, especially at older ages.
- Multiple air pollutants linked to asthma symptoms in childrenon March 13, 2024
Exposure to several combinations of toxic atmospheric pollutants may be triggering asthma symptoms among children, a recent analysis suggests. The study showed that 25 different combinations of air pollutants were associated with asthma symptoms among 269 elementary school children diagnosed with asthma.
PubMed, #vegan-diet –
- Plant-Based Diets in Children: Secular Trends, Health Outcomes, and a Roadmap for Urgent Practice Recommendations and Research-A Systematic Reviewon March 13, 2024
People are increasingly encouraged to reduce animal food consumption and shift towards plant-based diets; however, the implications for children’s health are unclear. In this narrative review of research in high-income settings, we summarize evidence on the increasing consumption of plant-based diets in children and update an earlier systematic review regarding their associations with children’s health outcomes. The evidence indicates that vegan, but not vegetarian, diets can restrict growth…
- The perceived experience of adhering to vegan diet: a descriptive phenomenological studyon March 12, 2024
CONCLUSION: Based on the participants’ experience, despite the challenging journey, the people with a vegetarian diet experienced partial and complete improvement of all the symptoms of the diseases. They had a healthy lifestyle and felt young and energetic. Likewise, this method had a positive effect on people’s mental state and mood.
- Contribution of plant-based dairy and fish alternatives to iodine nutrition in the Swiss diet: a Swiss Market Surveyon March 7, 2024
CONCLUSION: Only four out of 477 plant-based alternative products are iodine fortified in the Swiss market. Thus, the risk for consumers to miss out on the ca. 25% of the RDA for iodine by consuming plant-based alternatives is high, placing them at a risk for inadequate iodine intake.
- Popular Diets and Kidney Stoneson March 7, 2024
Popular diets often influence dietary patterns, which have different implications for kidney stone risk. Despite the wide variety of popular diets, some general principles can be gleaned from investigating their potential impact on nephrolithiasis. Plant-based diets, including Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension, Mediterranean, flexitarian, and vegetarian diets, may protect against nephrolithiasis when they consist largely of unprocessed plant foods, while carbohydrate-restricted diets…
- A whole-food, plant-based randomized controlled trial in metastatic breast cancer: weight, cardiometabolic, and hormonal outcomeson March 6, 2024
CONCLUSION: WFPB dietary changes during treatment for metastatic breast cancer are well tolerated and significantly improve weight, cardiometabolic and hormonal parameters. Longer studies are warranted to assess the durability of changes. Trial registration First registered at Clinicaltrials.gov (NCT03045289) on February 7, 2017.
Random Posts –
Featured Posts –
Latest from PubMed, #plant-based diet –
- Quantifying the Impact of Different Dietary Rumen Modulating Strategies on Enteric Methane Emission and Productivity in Ruminant Livestock: A Meta-Analysisby Bulelani N Pepeta on March 13, 2024
A meta-analysis was conducted with an aim to quantify the beneficial effects of nine different dietary rumen modulating strategies which includes: the use of plant-based bioactive compounds (saponin, tannins, oils, and ether extract), feed additives (nitrate, biochar, seaweed, and 3-nitroxy propanol), and diet manipulation (concentrate feeding) on rumen fermentation, enteric methane (CH(4)) production (g/day), CH(4) yield (g/kg dry matter intake) and CH(4) emission intensity (g/kg meat or […]
- Effects of Whole-Plant Corn Silage on Growth Performance, Serum Biochemical Indices, and Fecal Microorganisms in Hezuo Pigsby Xitong Yin on March 13, 2024
In this study, we investigated the effects of the dietary inclusion of different proportions of whole-plant corn silage on growth performance, serum biochemical indexes, and intestinal microorganisms in Hezuo pigs. Thirty-two two-month-old Hezuo pigs (body weight: 7.88 ± 0.81 kg) were randomly divided into four groups of eight pigs (half male, half female) each. The control (CON) group received a basal diet, while the three experimental groups were fed the basal diet, part of which had been…
- Dieta de la Milpa: A Culturally-Concordant Plant-Based Dietary Pattern for Hispanic/Latine People with Chronic Kidney Diseaseby Annabel Biruete on March 13, 2024
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) disproportionately affects minorities in the United States, including the Hispanic/Latine population, and is a public health concern in Latin American countries. An emphasis on healthy dietary patterns, including the Mediterranean and the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diets, has been suggested as they are associated with a lower incidence of CKD, slower CKD progression, and lower mortality in kidney failure. However, their applicability may be…
- The Effect of Ultrasound on the Extraction and Functionality of Proteins from Duckweed (Lemna minor)by Vicente Antonio Mirón-Mérida on March 13, 2024
The inclusion of protein in the regular human diet is important for the prevention of several chronic diseases. In the search for novel alternative protein sources, plant-based proteins are widely explored from a sustainable and ecological point of view. Duckweed (Lemna minor), also known as water lentil, is an aquatic plant with potential applications for human consumption due to its protein content and carbohydrate contents. Among all the conventional and novel protein extraction methods, […]
- Plant-Based Diet and Glycemic Control in Type 2 Diabetes: Evidence from a Thai Health-Promoting Hospitalby Jonah Bawa Adokwe on March 13, 2024
The prevalence of type 2 diabetes (T2DM) is associated with diet. While consumption of plant-based foods may reduce blood sugar levels, the impact of consuming plant-based foods on fasting blood sugar levels has not been well defined. This cross-sectional study was conducted at the Health-Promoting Hospital in Pak Phun Municipality, Thailand. It included 61 patients with T2DM and 74 controls matched for age and gender. Dietary intake levels among T2DM and controls were assessed by a validated…
- Food to Prevent Vascular Calcification in Chronic Kidney Diseaseby Diana Moldovan on March 13, 2024
Vascular calcification (VC) is a consequence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) which is of paramount importance regarding the survival of CKD patients. VC is far from being controlled with actual medication; as a result, in recent years, diet modulation has become more compelling. The concept of medical nutritional therapy points out the idea that food may prevent or treat diseases. The aim of this review was to evaluate the influence of food habits and nutritional intervention in the […]