Tag: Jak2 mutation

According to a 2020 study, nearly two-thirds of patients with polycythemia vera (PV) also presented with a vitamin D deficiency. This surprising link highlights that while PV is not caused by a vitamin deficiency, certain nutritional imbalances, like the common deficiency of vitamin D, are frequently associated with the condition.

The vast majority of polycythemia vera (PV) patients possess a JAK2 gene mutation that triggers uncontrolled red blood cell production. This condition leads to a paradoxical state of iron deficiency, yet the standard advice to the question, "Can you take iron supplements if you have polycycythemia?" is a firm no for most patients, as it can accelerate the underlying disease process.

Recent studies have shown a high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in patients with essential thrombocythemia (ET), a myeloproliferative neoplasm (MPN) characterized by an overproduction of platelets. This has led researchers to investigate whether vitamin D is good for essential thrombocythemia by influencing platelet counts, inflammation, and overall disease progression.