rs7041

rs7041(T), the more common allele in many non-Caucasian or Hispanic populations, encodes an aspartic acid (Asp) at position 432 in the vitamin D binding protein (VDBP); in older literature, this is numbered as position 416. rs7041(G), the rarer allele, encodes a glutamic acid (Glu) at this position. see discussion at the GC gene for how rs4588 and rs7041 together define three forms of the VDB protein A study of 414 (ex)-smokers older than 50 years concluded that vitamin D levels were reduced by 25% in [[rs7041](T;T) homozygotes (p<0.0001), and even after correction for age, gender and smoking history, they were also at increased risk for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD; odds ratio 2.11, CI: 1.20-3.71, p=0.009). They conclude that since vitamin D deficiency occurs frequently in COPD and correlates with its severity, vitamin D supplementation may be warranted in patients with severe COPD, and especially in those carrying rs7041(T) alleles.