Brent Richards /channels/taxonomy/term/1652/all en Vitamin D may not protect against COVID-19, as previously suggested /channels/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 ƻԺ 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 15:34:05 +0000 webfull 170938 at /channels A new 'atlas' of genetic influences on osteoporosis /channels/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 15:36:57 +0000 webfull 144547 at /channels New genetics findings unravel key components of fracture risk in osteoporosis /channels/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> Thu, 30 Aug 2018 10:24:36 +0000 webfull 140342 at /channels Novel gene implicated in osteoporosis /channels/news/novel-gene-implicated-osteoporosis-255200 <p> Mon, 14 Sep 2015 15:06:40 +0000 webfull 112373 at /channels Montreal Researchers Identify Rare Gene Variation Involved in Bone Disease /channels/news/montreal-researchers-indentify-rare-gene-variation-involved-bone-disease-255269 <p>A team of international researchers, led by Brent Richards of ƻԺ and the Lady Davis Institute at the Jewish General Hospital, published their findings Monday of a rare gene variation that offers a protective quality for bone density. “What’s interesting about this variation is that it has an effect on bone density and fracture twofold larger than anything we’ve found previously — twofold larger than anything anyone in the world has found previously, I should say,” Richards told the Montreal Gazette.</p> Tue, 15 Sep 2015 18:43:04 +0000 webfull 112426 at /channels UK10K genome project examines rare variants, disease /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 19:25:39 +0000 webfull 112431 at /channels