Journal article
Past environmental sun exposure and risk of multiple sclerosis: A role for the Cdx-2 Vitamin D receptor variant in this interaction
JL Dickinson, DI Perera, AF van der Mei, AL Ponsonby, AM Polanowski, RJ Thomson, BV Taylor, JD McKay, J Stankovich, T Dwyer
Multiple Sclerosis | SAGE PUBLICATIONS LTD | Published : 2009
Abstract
Multiple studies have provided evidence for an association between reduced sun exposure and increased risk of multiple sclerosis (MS), an association likely to be mediated, at least in part, by the vitamin D hormonal pathway. Herein, we examine whether the vitamin D receptor (VDR), an integral component of this pathway, influences MS risk in a population-based sample where winter sun exposure in early childhood has been found to be an important determinant of MS risk. Three polymorphisms within the VDR gene were genotyped in 136 MS cases and 235 controls, and associations with MS and past sun exposure were examined by logistic regression. No significant univariate associations between the po..
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Funding Acknowledgements
We thank the participants, Trish Groom and Jane Pittaway for conducting the environmental interviews, Ceri Flowers for the genetic fieldwork, Natasha Newton for administrative support and data entry, Sue Sawbridge and Tim Albion for the development and management of the database, the Tasmanian Multiple Sclerosis Society for assisting with the recruitment of volunteers, and Trevor Kilpatrick, H Butzkueven, A Hughes, B Drulovis, and S Sjieka who were involved with the clinical diagnosis. This project was supported with funding from the National Health and Research Council (NHMRC) of Australia, the Australian Rotary Health Research Fund, and MS Australia. vdM is supported by a NHMRC Training Fellowship.