Indian J Med Res
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Despite being a tropical country, vitamin D deficiency is highly prevalent in India with studies indicating 40-99 per cent prevalence. Apart from calcium and phosphate metabolism, vitamin D is involved in cell cycle regulation, cardiovascular, hepatoprotection. The metabolism of vitamin D is regulated by vitamin D tool genes (CYP2R1/CYP27B1/CYP24A1/VDR). The promoter regions of some of these genes have CpG islands, making them prone to methylation induced gene silencing, which may cause a reduction in circulating vitamin D levels. Epigenetic basis of vitamin D deficiency is yet to be studied in India, and hence, this pilot study was aimed to analyze whether methylation levels of CYP2R1 gene were correlated with the levels of 25(OH)D in healthy, adult individuals in Indian population. ⋯ This study found no significant correlation between levels of CYP2R1 methylation and circulating 25(OH)D deficiency. Further studies on the Indian population having a larger sample size including entire vitamin D tool genes, among different ethnic groups may be conducted to elucidate molecular etiology of circulating 25(OH)D deficiency. The high prevalence of normal serum calcium and phosphate levels among vitamin D deficient subjects in this study coupled with the strikingly high prevalence of the deficiency at the national level, may suggest the need to revise the cut-off criteria for vitamin D deficiency in the Indian population.
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Heart failure (HF) is emerging as a major health problem in India. The profile of HF in India is divergent from elsewhere in the world. While cardiologists must equip themselves with the requisite clinical management tools, scientists and health policymakers would need epidemiological data on HF and information on the resources required to meet the challenges ahead. The aim of this study was to identify the lacunae and to suggest recommendations to improve HF research. ⋯ The study generated a wish list for advances in HF research and management, and proposed recommendations for facilitating convergence research as a way forward to reduce the burden of HF in India.