{
  "abstract": "Introduction: Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection and low serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD) levels are strongly associated with multiple sclerosis (MS). We investigated whether genetically proxied serum vitamin D levels are causally linked to EBV infection, assessed by serology and detectable EBV DNA, using Mendelian randomisation (MR). Methods: We conducted two-sample cis-MR using genetic instruments associated with serum 25OHD concentrations, restricted to variants near genes implicated in vitamin D metabolism. Outcomes included EBV seropositivity, antibody responses to four EBV antigens, detectable EBV DNA in blood and saliva, and MS case status as a positive control. Results: Genetically proxied vitamin D levels had no clear effect on EBV seropositivity (odds ratio per standard deviation (SD) increase in rank-based inverse-normal transformation (RINT) 25OHD: 1.76, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.83-3.73) or antibody responses to EBV antigens. No significant associations were observed with detectable EBV DNA in blood (beta 0.02, 95% CI -0.004 to 0.04) or saliva (beta 0.02, 95% CI -0.23 to 0.26). In contrast, genetically proxied vitamin D levels were associated with reduced MS risk (odds ratio per SD increase in RINT 25OHD 0.67, 95% CI 0.54-0.84). Discussion: We found no clear evidence that genetically proxied vitamin D levels causally influence EBV serological responses or detectable EBV DNA in blood or saliva. The protective association with MS supports previous genetic evidence. These findings suggest that vitamin D and EBV may influence MS risk through distinct pathways, although effects specific to early-life vitamin D exposure remain possible.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "North Bristol NHS Trust"
  ],
  "article_type": "PUBLISHAHEADOFPRINT",
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 3,
  "authors": [
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "J. Stanley"
    },
    {
      "name": "F. Hamilton"
    },
    {
      "name": "G. Davey Smith"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/1a7xb3p0fmwb8.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.64898/2026.10.29.26366817",
  "fulltext_url": "https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.10.29.26366817v1.full",
  "id": "1a7xb3p0fmwb8",
  "issns": [],
  "landing_url": "https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.10.29.26366817v1",
  "language": null,
  "licence": "CC-BY",
  "licence_label": "CC BY",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "medrxiv",
      "infectious diseases"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": null,
  "pdf_url": "https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.10.29.26366817v1.full.pdf",
  "pmcid": null,
  "pmid": null,
  "published": "2026-10-29",
  "publisher": null,
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/1a7xb3p0fmwb8.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-11-01T00:20:39Z",
      "native_id": "10.64898/2026.10.29.26366817",
      "source": "medrxiv",
      "url": "https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.10.29.26366817v1"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "medicine",
      "origin": "medrxiv:infectious diseases",
      "subfield": "infectious-disease"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Serum Vitamin D Levels do not Affect Susceptibility to EBV Infection. A Mendelian Randomization Study.",
  "title_text": "Serum Vitamin D Levels do not Affect Susceptibility to EBV Infection. A Mendelian Randomization Study.",
  "type": "preprint",
  "updated_at": "2026-11-02T00:20:12Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/1a7xb3p0fmwb8",
  "venue": "medRxiv",
  "versions": []
}