{"id":"https://openalex.org/W7225005749","doi":"https://doi.org/10.64898/2026.10.29.26366817","title":"Serum Vitamin D Levels do not Affect Susceptibility to EBV Infection \u2013 A Mendelian Randomization Study","display_name":"Serum Vitamin D Levels do not Affect Susceptibility to EBV Infection \u2013 A Mendelian Randomization Study","publication_year":2026,"publication_date":"2026-10-31","ids":{"openalex":"https://openalex.org/W7225005749","doi":"https://doi.org/10.64898/2026.10.29.26366817"},"language":"en","primary_location":{"id":"doi:10.64898/2026.10.29.26366817","doi":"https://doi.org/10.64898/2026.10.29.26366817","is_oa":true,"landing_page_url":"https://doi.org/10.64898/2026.10.29.26366817","pdf_url":"https://www.medrxiv.org/content/medrxiv/early/2026/10/31/2026.10.29.26366817.full.pdf","source":{"id":"https://openalex.org/S3005729997","display_name":"medRxiv","issn_l":null,"issn":null,"is_oa":false,"is_in_doaj":false,"is_core":true,"listed_in":["cwts-core"],"host_organization":null,"host_organization_name":null,"host_organization_lineage":["https://openalex.org/P4310315909"],"host_organization_lineage_names":["Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press"],"type":"repository"},"license":"cc-by","license_id":"https://openalex.org/licenses/cc-by","version":"acceptedVersion","is_accepted":true,"is_published":false,"raw_source_name":"medRxiv","raw_type":"posted-content"},"volume":null,"type":"preprint","indexed_in":["crossref"],"open_access":{"is_oa":true,"oa_status":"green","oa_url":"https://www.medrxiv.org/content/medrxiv/early/2026/10/31/2026.10.29.26366817.full.pdf","any_repository_has_fulltext":true},"authorships":[{"author_position":"first","author":{"id":"https://openalex.org/A5108592012","display_name":"John Stanley","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0009-0002-1551-9406","observed_orcids":["https://orcid.org/0009-0002-1551-9406"]},"institutions":[{"id":"https://openalex.org/I1307034911","display_name":"North Bristol NHS Trust","ror":"https://ror.org/036x6gt55","country_code":"GB","type":"healthcare","lineage":["https://openalex.org/I1307034911","https://openalex.org/I4405276282"]}],"countries":["GB"],"is_corresponding":true,"raw_author_name":"Jack Stanley","raw_affiliation_strings":["Department of Infection, North Bristol NHS Trust, Bristol, UK"],"raw_orcid":"https://orcid.org/0009-0002-1551-9406","affiliations":[{"raw_affiliation_string":"Department of Infection, North Bristol NHS Trust, Bristol, UK","institution_ids":["https://openalex.org/I1307034911"]}]},{"author_position":"middle","author":{"id":"https://openalex.org/A5013184354","display_name":"George Davey Smith","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1407-8314","observed_orcids":["https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1407-8314"]},"institutions":[{"id":"https://openalex.org/I36234482","display_name":"University of Bristol","ror":"https://ror.org/0524sp257","country_code":"GB","type":"education","lineage":["https://openalex.org/I36234482"]},{"id":"https://openalex.org/I4387155195","display_name":"MRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit","ror":"https://ror.org/030qtrs05","country_code":"GB","type":"facility","lineage":["https://openalex.org/I36234482","https://openalex.org/I4210087105","https://openalex.org/I4387155195","https://openalex.org/I90344618"]}],"countries":["GB"],"is_corresponding":false,"raw_author_name":"George Davey Smith","raw_affiliation_strings":["MRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK"],"raw_orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1407-8314","affiliations":[{"raw_affiliation_string":"MRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK","institution_ids":["https://openalex.org/I36234482","https://openalex.org/I4387155195"]}]},{"author_position":"last","author":{"id":"https://openalex.org/A5040114178","display_name":"Fergus Hamilton","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9760-4059","observed_orcids":["https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9760-4059"]},"institutions":[{"id":"https://openalex.org/I1307034911","display_name":"North Bristol NHS Trust","ror":"https://ror.org/036x6gt55","country_code":"GB","type":"healthcare","lineage":["https://openalex.org/I1307034911","https://openalex.org/I4405276282"]},{"id":"https://openalex.org/I36234482","display_name":"University of Bristol","ror":"https://ror.org/0524sp257","country_code":"GB","type":"education","lineage":["https://openalex.org/I36234482"]},{"id":"https://openalex.org/I4387155195","display_name":"MRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit","ror":"https://ror.org/030qtrs05","country_code":"GB","type":"facility","lineage":["https://openalex.org/I36234482","https://openalex.org/I4210087105","https://openalex.org/I4387155195","https://openalex.org/I90344618"]}],"countries":["GB"],"is_corresponding":false,"raw_author_name":"Fergus Hamilton","raw_affiliation_strings":["Department of Infection, North Bristol NHS Trust, Bristol, UK","MRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK"],"raw_orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9760-4059","affiliations":[{"raw_affiliation_string":"Department of Infection, North Bristol NHS Trust, Bristol, UK","institution_ids":["https://openalex.org/I1307034911"]},{"raw_affiliation_string":"MRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK","institution_ids":["https://openalex.org/I36234482","https://openalex.org/I4387155195"]}]}],"institutions":[],"countries_distinct_count":1,"institutions_distinct_count":3,"corresponding_author_ids":["https://openalex.org/A5108592012"],"corresponding_institution_ids":["https://openalex.org/I1307034911"],"apc_list":null,"apc_paid":null,"fwci":null,"has_fulltext":true,"cited_by_count":0,"citation_normalized_percentile":null,"cited_by_percentile_year":null,"biblio":{"volume":null,"issue":null,"first_page":null,"last_page":null},"is_retracted":false,"is_paratext":false,"is_xpac":false,"primary_topic":{"id":"https://openalex.org/T10277","display_name":"Vitamin D Research Studies","score":0.6273999810218811,"subfield":{"id":"https://openalex.org/subfields/2712","display_name":"Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism"},"field":{"id":"https://openalex.org/fields/27","display_name":"Medicine"},"domain":{"id":"https://openalex.org/domains/4","display_name":"Health Sciences"}},"topics":[{"id":"https://openalex.org/T10277","display_name":"Vitamin D Research Studies","score":0.6273999810218811,"subfield":{"id":"https://openalex.org/subfields/2712","display_name":"Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism"},"field":{"id":"https://openalex.org/fields/27","display_name":"Medicine"},"domain":{"id":"https://openalex.org/domains/4","display_name":"Health Sciences"}},{"id":"https://openalex.org/T10137","display_name":"Multiple Sclerosis Research Studies","score":0.11580000072717667,"subfield":{"id":"https://openalex.org/subfields/2728","display_name":"Clinical Neurology"},"field":{"id":"https://openalex.org/fields/27","display_name":"Medicine"},"domain":{"id":"https://openalex.org/domains/4","display_name":"Health Sciences"}},{"id":"https://openalex.org/T10685","display_name":"Viral-associated cancers and disorders","score":0.06729999929666519,"subfield":{"id":"https://openalex.org/subfields/2730","display_name":"Oncology"},"field":{"id":"https://openalex.org/fields/27","display_name":"Medicine"},"domain":{"id":"https://openalex.org/domains/4","display_name":"Health Sciences"}}],"keywords":[{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/vitamin-d","display_name":"vitamin D","score":0.8339999914169312},{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/25-hydroxyvitamin-d","display_name":"25-hydroxyvitamin D","score":0.9800000190734863},{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/epstein-barr-virus-infection","display_name":"Epstein-Barr virus infection","score":0.9369999766349792},{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/multiple-sclerosis","display_name":"multiple sclerosis","score":0.777999997138977},{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/ebv-seropositivity","display_name":"EBV seropositivity","score":0.8999999761581421},{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/ebv-antibodies","display_name":"EBV antibodies","score":0.8220000267028809},{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/ebv-dna","display_name":"EBV DNA","score":0.8270000219345093},{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/vitamin-d-metabolism-genes","display_name":"vitamin D metabolism genes","score":0.6990000009536743},{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/causal-relationship","display_name":"causal relationship","score":0.5299999713897705},{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/genetic-tools","display_name":"genetic instruments","score":0.382999986410141}],"concepts":[{"id":"https://openalex.org/C124490489","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q7936963","display_name":"Vitamin D and neurology","level":2,"score":0.7365000247955322},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C2779901538","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q6816584","display_name":"Mendelian randomization","level":5,"score":0.673799991607666},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C203014093","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q101929","display_name":"Immunology","level":1,"score":0.6478999853134155},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C45189115","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q502159","display_name":"Serology","level":3,"score":0.5659000277519226},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C2776940978","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q34956","display_name":"Vitamin","level":2,"score":0.47290000319480896},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C71924100","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q11190","display_name":"Medicine","level":0,"score":0.4650999903678894},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C159654299","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q79460","display_name":"Antibody","level":2,"score":0.4377000033855438},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C126322002","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q11180","display_name":"Internal medicine","level":1,"score":0.4180999994277954},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C86803240","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q420","display_name":"Biology","level":0,"score":0.38830000162124634},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C2780640218","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q8277","display_name":"Multiple sclerosis","level":2,"score":0.3815000057220459},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C2781375147","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q6900","display_name":"Epstein\u2013Barr virus","level":3,"score":0.33070001006126404},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C2522874641","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q808","display_name":"Virus","level":2,"score":0.3303000032901764},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C104317684","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q7187","display_name":"Gene","level":2,"score":0.3287000060081482},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C179639408","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q417057","display_name":"Calcitriol receptor","level":3,"score":0.3206000030040741},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C146304588","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q961652","display_name":"Case-control study","level":2,"score":0.3197000026702881},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C2779740938","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q4138762","display_name":"vitamin D deficiency","level":3,"score":0.3172999918460846},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C134018914","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q162606","display_name":"Endocrinology","level":1,"score":0.31189998984336853},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C180754005","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q80726","display_name":"Allele","level":3,"score":0.3059999942779541},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C2779668873","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q6693756","display_name":"Lower risk","level":3,"score":0.2939000129699707},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C153209595","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q501128","display_name":"Single-nucleotide polymorphism","level":4,"score":0.2870999872684479},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C44249647","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q208498","display_name":"Confidence interval","level":2,"score":0.28600001335144043},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C82789193","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q2142611","display_name":"Relative risk","level":3,"score":0.27149999141693115},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C49105822","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q176996","display_name":"Polymerase chain reaction","level":3,"score":0.27070000767707825},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C67636389","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q784237","display_name":"Genetic predisposition","level":3,"score":0.2700999975204468},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C1621761","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q7997549","display_name":"Whole blood","level":2,"score":0.27000001072883606},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C135763542","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q106016","display_name":"Genotype","level":3,"score":0.26429998874664307},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C156957248","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1862216","display_name":"Odds ratio","level":2,"score":0.2637999951839447},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C48023723","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q856198","display_name":"Real-time polymerase chain reaction","level":3,"score":0.2632000148296356},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C504460877","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q155925","display_name":"Saliva","level":2,"score":0.25920000672340393},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C159047783","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q7215","display_name":"Virology","level":1,"score":0.25699999928474426}],"mesh":[],"locations_count":1,"locations":[{"id":"doi:10.64898/2026.10.29.26366817","doi":"https://doi.org/10.64898/2026.10.29.26366817","is_oa":true,"landing_page_url":"https://doi.org/10.64898/2026.10.29.26366817","pdf_url":"https://www.medrxiv.org/content/medrxiv/early/2026/10/31/2026.10.29.26366817.full.pdf","source":{"id":"https://openalex.org/S3005729997","display_name":"medRxiv","issn_l":null,"issn":null,"is_oa":false,"is_in_doaj":false,"is_core":true,"listed_in":["cwts-core"],"host_organization":null,"host_organization_name":null,"host_organization_lineage":["https://openalex.org/P4310315909"],"host_organization_lineage_names":["Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press"],"type":"repository"},"license":"cc-by","license_id":"https://openalex.org/licenses/cc-by","version":"acceptedVersion","is_accepted":true,"is_published":false,"raw_source_name":"medRxiv","raw_type":"posted-content"}],"best_oa_location":{"id":"doi:10.64898/2026.10.29.26366817","doi":"https://doi.org/10.64898/2026.10.29.26366817","is_oa":true,"landing_page_url":"https://doi.org/10.64898/2026.10.29.26366817","pdf_url":"https://www.medrxiv.org/content/medrxiv/early/2026/10/31/2026.10.29.26366817.full.pdf","source":{"id":"https://openalex.org/S3005729997","display_name":"medRxiv","issn_l":null,"issn":null,"is_oa":false,"is_in_doaj":false,"is_core":true,"listed_in":["cwts-core"],"host_organization":null,"host_organization_name":null,"host_organization_lineage":["https://openalex.org/P4310315909"],"host_organization_lineage_names":["Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press"],"type":"repository"},"license":"cc-by","license_id":"https://openalex.org/licenses/cc-by","version":"acceptedVersion","is_accepted":true,"is_published":false,"raw_source_name":"medRxiv","raw_type":"posted-content"},"sustainable_development_goals":[{"score":1.0,"id":"https://metadata.un.org/sdg/3","display_name":"Good health and well-being"}],"study_designs":[{"id":"https://openalex.org/study-designs/observational-study","display_name":"Observational Study"}],"awards":[{"id":"https://openalex.org/G5925143904","display_name":"Mendelian Randomisation","funder_award_id":"MC_UU_00032/1","funder_id":"https://openalex.org/F4320334626","funder_display_name":"Medical Research Council"},{"id":"https://openalex.org/G8383967617","display_name":null,"funder_award_id":"MC_UU_00032","funder_id":"https://openalex.org/F4320320360","funder_display_name":"University of Bristol"}],"funders":[{"id":"https://openalex.org/F4320319990","display_name":"National Institute for Health and Care Research","ror":"https://ror.org/0187kwz08"},{"id":"https://openalex.org/F4320320360","display_name":"University of Bristol","ror":"https://ror.org/0524sp257"},{"id":"https://openalex.org/F4320334626","display_name":"Medical Research Council","ror":"https://ror.org/03x94j517"}],"has_content":{"grobid_xml":true,"pdf":true},"content_urls":{"pdf":"https://content.openalex.org/works/W7225005749.pdf","grobid_xml":"https://content.openalex.org/works/W7225005749.grobid-xml"},"referenced_works_count":0,"referenced_works":[],"related_works":["https://openalex.org/W2571298643","https://openalex.org/W2020395055","https://openalex.org/W2827567656","https://openalex.org/W2167958170","https://openalex.org/W7213256907","https://openalex.org/W2136752305","https://openalex.org/W1984607227","https://openalex.org/W2794805939","https://openalex.org/W2130135501","https://openalex.org/W6922338490"],"abstract_inverted_index":{"Abstract":[0],"Introduction":[1],"Epstein\u2013Barr":[2],"virus":[3],"(EBV)":[4],"infection":[5],"and":[6,38,84,86,224],"low":[7],"serum":[8,25,56],"25-hydroxyvitamin":[9],"D":[10,27,67,98,164,194,223,239],"(25OHD)":[11],"levels":[12,28,99,165,195],"are":[13,29],"strongly":[14],"associated":[15,54,167],"with":[16,55,137,168,212],"multiple":[17],"sclerosis":[18],"(MS).":[19],"We":[20,47,185],"investigated":[21],"whether":[22],"genetically":[23,161,191],"proxied":[24,96,162,192],"vitamin":[26,66,97,163,193,222,238],"causally":[30,196],"linked":[31],"to":[32,60,75,129,148,157,236],"EBV":[33,40,71,77,80,105,130,139,198,203,225],"infection,":[34],"assessed":[35],"by":[36],"serology":[37],"detectable":[39,79,138,202],"DNA,":[41],"using":[42,51],"Mendelian":[43],"randomisation":[44],"(MR).":[45],"Methods":[46],"conducted":[48],"two-sample":[49],"cis-MR":[50],"genetic":[52,216],"instruments":[53],"25OHD":[57,179],"concentrations,":[58],"restricted":[59],"variants":[61],"near":[62],"genes":[63],"implicated":[64],"in":[65,82,114,141,177,205],"metabolism.":[68],"Outcomes":[69],"included":[70],"seropositivity,":[72],"antibody":[73,127],"responses":[74,128,200],"four":[76],"antigens,":[78],"DNA":[81,140,204],"blood":[83,142,206],"saliva,":[85],"MS":[87,170,213,228],"case":[88],"status":[89],"as":[90],"a":[91],"positive":[92],"control.":[93],"Results":[94],"Genetically":[95],"had":[100],"no":[101,187],"clear":[102,188],"effect":[103],"on":[104],"seropositivity":[106],"(odds":[107,172],"ratio":[108,173],"per":[109,174],"standard":[110],"deviation":[111],"(SD)":[112],"increase":[113,176],"rank-based":[115],"inverse-normal":[116],"transformation":[117],"(RINT)":[118],"25OHD:":[119],"1.76,":[120],"95%":[121,145,154,181],"confidence":[122],"interval":[123],"[CI]":[124],"0.83\u20133.73)":[125],"or":[126,150,201,207],"antigens.":[131],"No":[132],"significant":[133],"associations":[134],"were":[135,166],"observed":[136],"(beta":[143,152],"0.02,":[144,153],"CI":[146,155,182],"\u22120.004":[147],"0.04)":[149],"saliva":[151],"\u22120.23":[156],"0.26).":[158],"In":[159],"contrast,":[160],"reduced":[169],"risk":[171,229],"SD":[175],"RINT":[178],"0.67,":[180],"0.54\u20130.84).":[183],"Discussion":[184],"found":[186],"evidence":[189],"that":[190,221],"influence":[197,227],"serological":[199],"saliva.":[208],"The":[209],"protective":[210],"association":[211],"supports":[214],"previous":[215],"evidence.":[217],"These":[218],"findings":[219],"suggest":[220],"may":[226],"through":[230],"distinct":[231],"pathways,":[232],"although":[233],"effects":[234],"specific":[235],"early-life":[237],"exposure":[240],"remain":[241],"possible.":[242]},"counts_by_year":[],"updated_date":"2026-11-06T12:05:46.655746","created_date":"2026-11-01T00:00:00"}