/newsroom/taxonomy/term/7088/all en /newsroom/channels/news/vitamin-d-may-not-protect-against-covid-19-previously-suggested-331358 <p>While previous research early in the pandemic suggested that vitamin D cuts the risk of contracting COVID-19, a new study from 91ÉçÇø finds there is no genetic evidence that the vitamin works as a protective measure against the coronavirus.</p> <p>"Vitamin D supplementation as a public health measure to improve outcomes is not supported by this study. Most importantly, our results suggest that investment in other therapeutic or preventative avenues should be prioritized for COVID-19 randomized clinical trials," say the authors.</p> Fri, 04 Jun 2021 15:34:04 +0000 shirley.cardenas@mcgill.ca 268949 at /newsroom /newsroom/channels/news/new-atlas-genetic-influences-osteoporosis-292859 <p>A ground-breaking new study led by researchers from the Lady Davis Institute (LDI) at the Jewish General Hospital (JGH) has succeeded in compiling an atlas of genetic factors associated with estimated bone mineral density (BMD), one of the most clinically relevant factors in diagnosing osteoporosis. The paper, published in Nature Genetics, identifies 518 genome-wide loci, of which 301 are newly discovered, that explain 20% of the genetic variance associated with osteoporosis.</p> Thu, 03 Jan 2019 15:36:56 +0000 laurie.devine@mcgill.ca 128200 at /newsroom /newsroom/channels/news/new-genetics-findings-unravel-key-components-fracture-risk-osteoporosis-289107 <p>The largest study ever to investigate the genetics of osteoporosis and fracture risk determined that only two examined factors – bone mineral density (BMD) and muscle strength – play a potentially causal role in the risk of suffering osteoporotic fracture, a major health problem affecting more than 9 million people worldwide very year. Other clinical risk factors like vitamin D levels and calcium intake, historically considered to be crucial mediators of fracture, were not found to directly predispose people in the general population to fracture. This research was published in the BMJ.</p> Wed, 29 Aug 2018 15:42:36 +0000 laurie.devine@mcgill.ca 78585 at /newsroom /newsroom/channels/news/uk10k-genome-project-examines-rare-variants-disease-255274 <p>The largest population genome sequencing effort to date is published today in Nature. Based on data collected by the UK10K project, the study was designed to explore the contribution of rare genetic variants to human disease and its impact on risk factors. Rare genetic variants are changes in DNA that are carried only by relatively few people in a population. Tue, 15 Sep 2015 19:25:36 +0000 cynthia.lee@mcgill.ca 24470 at /newsroom /newsroom/channels/news/novel-gene-implicated-osteoporosis-255200 <p> Mon, 14 Sep 2015 14:03:44 +0000 laurie.devine@mcgill.ca 24465 at /newsroom