Research Proposal: Vitamin D and Digestion, Research Proposal Example

Abstract

Vitamin D is a natural chemical that is produced in the skin from a vitamin D-precursor via sunlight exposure. Without sufficient amounts of vitamin D, the body will along absorb 10-15% of the necessary calcium. Researchers have recently found that there are vitamin D receptors on organs in the body, such as the heart, blood vessels, endocrine glands, and muscles, indicating the importance in digestion. The purpose of the study is determine the effectiveness or efficiency of binding sites in the oval cavity of individuals in order to correlate the importance of vitamin D in the digestion process.

Literature Review

Vitamin D is a natural chemical that is produced in the skin from a vitamin D-precursor via sunlight exposure. Sunlight ultraviolet energy converts the precursor into 1,25(OH)2D, more commonly known as vitamin D. Vitamin D was first found in the early 1900’s due to the search for a cure for the childhood bone disease, rickets. Due to the correlation between low vitamin D and bone disease, vitamin D became introduced into more foods. In addition, vitamin D became correlated with other health issues, such as cancer, heart disease, neurological diseases and diabetes. (Harvard University, 2013)

Vitamin D works by absorbing calcium in the intestines. Without sufficient amounts of vitamin D, the body will along absorb 10-15% of the necessary calcium. The low levels of vitamin were the source of rickets disease, as well as osteoporosis (thinning of bones). Researchers have recently found that not only is vitamin D essential to the increase in calcium uptake for bones, there were vitamin D receptors on other organs in the body, such as the heart, blood vessels, endocrine glands, and muscles. Evidence has suggested that the binding of vitamin D to these other receptors is correlated to decreases in cancer, heart disease, muscle problems, endocrine diseases, and digestive problems. (Harvard University, 2013)

Tissues in the digestive system have been found to contain numerous sites for the receptor binding for vitamin D3 in rats, hamsters and mice. (Stumpf, 2008) The finding of the numerous sites has indicated the importance of vitamin D in digestion. In addition, these sites have been located in the entire oral cavity of the animals. There has also been studies conducted correlating the relationship between vitamin D and digestive diseases, such as Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. The focus of this study, therefore, is to establish the binding efficiency of vitamin D to receptors obtained from oral cavity in different individuals. The purpose of the study is determine the effectiveness or efficiency of binding sites in the oval cavity of individuals in order to correlate the importance of vitamin D in the digestion process.

Statement of the Research Project

Vitamin D receptor binding has a high binding efficiency (greater than 75%) in human saliva. The importance of vitamin D in digestion can therefore be correlated with the binding efficiency.

Aim

In order to test the binding efficiency of vitamin D in saliva, three samples of saliva will be collected and obtained into a sample container, using aseptic techniques, from 20 different human volunteers, ten male and ten female. In addition, one age group will be evaluated in order to rule out any age bias.

Objective

The objective of this study is to find the efficiency of vitamin D binding sites in the oral cavity of individuals, in order to correlate the importance of vitamin D in the digestion process. The binding sites will be analyzed using human saliva samples and correlated among individuals, as well as an efficiency correlation.

Research Methods

The saliva will then be analyzed using Quantikine, a human Vitamin D Binding Protein Immunoassay ©R&D (2010). The results will be compared for each individual and as a group, as well as male versus female. The percentage of binding will be analyzed statistically for the group using a correlation analysis. The samples will be collected within a week. The analysis will be run in a lab the following week.

Budget:

References

Harvard University. (2013). Harvard Health Publications. Obtained on 5/24/13 from: http://www.health.harvard.edu/newsweek/vitamin-d-and-your-health.htm

Stumpf, W.E. (2008). Vitamin D and the digestive system. Eur J Drug Metab Pharmacokinet. Apr-Junl. 33(2):85-100.

Quantikine. 2010. Human Vitamin D Binding Protein Immunoassay. Catalog Number DVDBP0. ©R&D.