Author's Reply: Comments on "Vitamin Pharmacogenomics: New Insight into Individual Differences in Diseases and Drug Responses".

Dear Editor,

We thank the author for making meaningful comments on our recent article [1]. The SNP 772G > A (rs602662) in exon 2 of the gene encoding fucosyl transferase (FUT2) has been found to be related with the alterations in plasma vitamin B12 levels. GG carriers possessed lower levels of vitamin B12. However, we didn’t know the mechanism behind this association.

The author by referring to the related studies, has provided us a feasible explanation for the FUT2-based variations in vitamin B12 levels. The ancestral (G) allele allows for normal translation of FUT2, resulting in ABH secretor phenotype, which is believed to be associated with Helicobacter pylori-induced gastritis or associated with decreased gastric intrinsic factor (GIF) secretion, therefore leading to reduced plasma B12 levels. It provides sound evidence for us to believe that genetic polymorphisms may exert their effects on vitamin pharmacokinetics pathways, leading to varied plasma vitamin levels and different clinical consequences.

Although there may be refuted responses on the mechanisms, we thank the author for enlightening us to reveal the pharmacogenomics involved in the mechanisms of vitamin variation.

Competing interests

The authors have declared no competing interests.