One of the surprises over the past year has been all the research regarding Vitamin D and brain health. Give that many people are spending less time outdoors and more time in front of their computers, we all should be concerned, as Vitamin D comes in part from our exposure to the sun.
Low Vitamin D levels have been associated with pain, depression, MS, cancer and now perhaps even dementia. Here are the results of a new study that should cause all of us to pay attention. I frequently check the Vitamin D levels in my patients and frrequently see that they are below the optimal level. Get your levels checked if you have any of these concerns.
A new large-scale senior population study has found that a lack of vitamin D in the elderly could be linked to cognitive impairment.
The study, conducted on almost 2,000 adults over the age of 65, is the first of its scale to identify this relationship, and prompted researchers to suggest vitamin D supplementation as a possible means of reducing the risk of dementia.
The findings from the researchers at the Peninsula Medical School, the University of Cambridge and the University of Michigan revealed that compared to those with optimum levels of vitamin D, those with the lowest levels were more than twice as likely to be cognitively impaired.
Benefits and deficiencies
Vitamin D is one of the better researched vitamins, with a wide range of health benefits already backed by indisputable science.
In adults, it is said vitamin D deficiency may precipitate or exacerbate osteopenia, osteoporosis, muscle weakness, fractures, common cancers, autoimmune diseases, infectious diseases and cardiovascular diseases. There is also some evidence that the vitamin may reduce the incidence of several types of cancer and type 1 diabetes.
However, the vitamin is generally only received through exposure to sunlight or through fortified foods, meaning that optimal levels are often lacking. The elderly, in particular, are at risk of deficiency as the skin’s capacity to absorb vitamin D from the sun decreases with age.
Dementia risk
According to the researchers of the new study, which will appear in the forthcoming issue of the Journal of Geriatric Psychology and Neurology, some small clinical studies have suggested that serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] concentration, an effective indicator of vitamin D status, may be associated with dementia and cognitive function.
However, evidence from large-scale and well-designed trials is lacking, they said, prompting the current study.
The researchers recruited 1,766 participants (708 men and 1,058 women) who participated in the Health Survey for England in 2000.
Their levels of cognitive function were assessed using the Abbreviated Mental Test (AMT), a common neurocognitive screening instrument. Fasting blood samples were also taken, and levels of serum 25(OH)D were measured.
The researchers then used Multivariable logistic regression models to determine the relationship of serum 25(OH)D to cognitive impairment, adjusting models for factors such as age, sex, education and ethnicity.
Vitamin D for the brain?
Their findings revealed that people with normal cognitive function had higher levels of serum 25(OH)D than those who were cognitively impaired. Those with the lowest serum 25(OH)D concentrations were four times more likely to be cognitively impaired.
However, the researchers said that the cross-sectional design of their study means they could not determine whether low levels of serum 25(OH)D actually cause cognitive impairment.
They did say, though, that their findings add to the accumulating data supporting “previously unsuspected roles for vitamin D in brain development and neuroprotection”.
“Further research is warranted to investigate whether vitamin D supplementation is a cost effective and safe way of reducing the incidence of cognitive impairment in the growing elderly population around the world,” they concluded.
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I would be interested to know whether they are using natural Vitamin D as in Cod Liver Oil or are using synthetic vitamin D. Weston A. Price was so far ahead of his time in realizing the value of Vitamin D. His work, as outlined in his book Nutrition and Physical Degeneration, would serve us well today.
I have red about vitamin D everyway recently and since I increased my dose to 2000 mg my eches and pains in the back are almost gone.
Now I read that it’s good for the memory too!
How much should the average adult be taking of vitamin D? I am a skin cancer survivor and have been told to stay out of the sun. Thanks!
Dianna
Very interesting! My husband recently had a physical and was found to be low in Vitamin D. Do you think this is the reason he forgets to take his coffee with him every morning? Just kidding! He also has ADD. I’ll show him this article. Thanks
I was recently tested for Vitamin D deficency. Sure enough there it was. I am now on 50,000 units weekly for 4 months. i used to spend a lot more time in the sun. I will be soaking up those ray sthis summer! My memory and cognitive functure worsened with antidepresant meds. I am improving but it’s going to take more than sunshine to recover. Your brain needs excercise like any other part of your body. I am getting back on track with walking, eating healty, resding, learning new things, etc.
Please insist on the this simple lab test. It could affect the rest of your life.
Remember that (1) sunscreen prevents the absorption of the part of sunlight that would otherwise increase your Vit. D level and (2) people with nautuarally dark skinalso do not absorb enough sun to increase their Vit. D levels.
I’ve been diagnosed with low vitamin D. I am a vegan and do not wish to take vitamin D3 (derived from animal products). Is vegan vitamin D as effective?
Interesting. Even tho I get, from various vitamin/supplements, from my New Med doc, about 1200 units Vit D per day, I still test low. Now she has me on 1,000 additional units, will be blood-tested in a few weeks.
Another point: dark-skinned men have a higher rate of prostate cancer than fair-skinned men. Could prevention be as simple as more Vitamin D?? Clearly, fair skin means more sun exposure, if all else is equal.
They used to think D3 (“animal” vit D) was more effective than D2 (“plant” Vit D) but one recent study disputed that and found it raised blood levels just as well. However that debate is settled, the bottom line is to take vit D but get follow up testing to monitor your response which can vary widely from person to person. Many people need up to 1800 IU a day to maintain vit D blood levels in winter. If you want a food source, mushrooms are a good plant source (how weird is that!?). Fresh mushrooms have 86-142% Daily Value per pound (100%=400IU vit D). Dried Shitake mushrooms have 16% each.
Where can I get tested to see if I have sufficient Vitamin D?
I have recently found that I was low in Vitamin D and realised it has happened because I have spent nearly 8 months conducting online programs for students, which of course meant I spent more time indoors.
I now sure I get time swimming and generally sitting in the sun for a period of time each day.
I also spend time with people who are ‘voice hearers’ and have encouraged them to get a blood test, because they spend so much time indoors and have now been encouraged to go walking each day in the sunshine.
Mushrooms! I love mushrooms. More, please
last 2 articles on : 1 Vitamin D and
2 diabeties, related and ischemic stroke really hit home
as required reading and heeding for my girl friend
Dr. Amen, I have been researching toxins in food. One toxin which is biomanufactured is attached to Herpes, Salmonella, E-Coli and more, to kill bugs. It is injected into seeds of GMO crops and is sprayed on crops. It is used in 80% of the world on crops. This toxic protein cannot be encapsulated by the macrophage and I suspect it may be causing brain diseases. It can only be killed by UV light or by 280 degrees steam. We already know it paralyzes Honey Bee’s gut but what else does it cause since bacterium finds holes in the body and then multiplies. It is worth researching this under a microscope. Bt, as it is called, or Bacillus Thuringiensis has mutated at least once to the more dangerous kind. It is used in 80% of the world. 70% of the Honey Bees are dying and/or disappearing. They seem to lose memory as to how to get back to the hive. Could this be a factor in Alzheimers, ADD, ADHD, Autism and more. If you are interested in the research, please contact me at 443-542-9313 or e-mail me. I have been working on this with a Biologist friend in Canada. My interest in in saving the Honey Bee but it occured to me that brain diseases are huge and you might want to pursue this or point me to someone who will study this.
Thanks for all your good work for all of us.
P.F.D.
I THINK IT IS VERY IMPORTANT INVESTIGATION. MEMORY IS FUNDAMENTAL.
Can you provide details of how one practices safe sun and receives the benefits of the vitamin D it provides?
Where is the information coming from about mushrooms containing Vit D? When someone posts a statement such as this, please include your source of information.
About Vitamin D
I have heard that there is a possibility that chemically derived vit D3 connects into the receptor but does not really do the job of natural vit D so the body cannot use this vit D so it builds up in the blood. Is this a possibility? Is there any research into this premise?
Regarding Vitamin D information on sun, supplements, testing, and more see the well accpted, standard information at http://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/vitamind.asp
For detailed, technical in depth but sometimes overly “pro-vit D” info see http://www.vitamindcouncil.org/
Regarding vitamin D content in mushrooms I am an RD (Registered Dietitian) and used some of the references in first article link above as well as USDA databases and information from ESHA professional software for nutrient analysis. These are of course average figures, like other foods the actual vitamin content is affected by handling and storage. Exposing your mushrooms to the sun (UV light) increases their vitamin D content. For detailed information see the mushroomcoucil.org website. And of course you have to love mushrooms enough to eat them often enough to make a difference! Bon Appetit!
I would like to see more on this
What are the numbers for low vitamin D levels?
I was tested for vitamin d, 1, 25 Dihydroxy. The result was 57.6 and the normal range on the lab sheet says 15.9-55.6 PG/ML. It was in the high range. Isnt the measurement suppose to be ng/ml? It just isnt possible for me to be high in vitamin d levels. I dont take supplements and I live in Washington state and rarely am outside. I suffer from most of the symtoms indicative of a D deficiancy. Can someone help me out with this?
I am 62 years old. I am healthy except foe major anxiety,which I am taking abilify for. What vitamins and minerals should I be taking.
Carollyne.
Dr. Amen,
PLEASE COME TO CHICAGO.
THANK YOU.
Can too much Vitamin D cause insomnia? My doctor has me take a large daily does of this in the winter. This spring, i was having severe insomnia. After I stopped the Vitamin D, my sleep became more regulated.
Beth Mills: Hi, you need your 25-hydroxy vitamin D level tested to know if you are deficient, not the 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D test that they gave you. See the links in my 3/3/09 post above. The government site lists 25-hydroxy levels over 30 ng/ml as “Proposed by some as desirable”, the vitamin D council recommends that levels be “between 50 and 80 ng/mL”. The vit d council site also has link for do-it-yourself at home blood test for $65, however I haven’t tried it out yet but FYI: http://www.zrtlab.com/Page.aspx?nid=12&action=view&category=14&partner=VitaminD%20Council Good luck Beth.
I would like to know the answer to Ann E’s question about insomnia also. I have S.A.D, chronic depression, PTSD, and Overfocused ADD. Because of the PTSD, I’ve had trouble with insomnia since I was ten. (I’m now twenty-four.) I love the sun, but skin cancer runs in my family, so I don’t just “lay out” or anything. I have a lightbox, which helps my mood, but it’s not the real sun. I recently got bloodwork done, and I, too, have a Vitamin D deficiency, which I wasn’t expecting. My doctor told me to take maximum strength Citracal with Vitamin D (since I also have low calcium amounts, due to lactose intolerance). I take 2000 IU/ day. Does this affect insomnia at all? Mine has recently gotten worse, but, as you can see, it could be from many other things.
Do you have any suggestions on how Beta Carotene affects the brain? I have way too much of it, which I’m currently trying to fix. Could it affect my brain too?
The difference in natural vitamin D and a synthetic is one number-
Natural is a 3 and synthetic is a 2. BIG DIFFERENCE- only get 3… Who does it better God or man?
Latest research is it isn’t a vitamin at all… its a hormone. And it is said to help depression, cancer preventative, moods, and immune… and alot more… including bone health.
Catch a cold… reach for your vitamin ( or is a hormone) D3!
I have even heard at lectures- the darker the skin the more we need it. and if we have been sunning it takes a full 30 minutes for our body to absorb it afterwards… so don’t wash it off to early…..