Vitamin D deficiency increases the risk of dementia
Protects the sunshine vitamin from Alzheimer's and dementia?
08/08/2014
A lack of vitamin D apparently increases the risk of dementia in old age. An international research team has now come to this conclusion in the context of a long-term study involving more than 1,600 senior citizens aged 65 and over. Accordingly, the risk of disease in severe cases is more than twice as high as with a good vitamin D supply. Since the ability to produce vitamins in-house decreases with age, it must now be further researched to what extent, for example, high-fat fish or supplements could stop or even prevent the onset of neurodegenerative disease.
Vitamin D deficiency can lead to rickets and osteoporosis
Vitamin D, the so-called „Sunshine Vitamin“ is important for the calcium balance and regulates the formation and disassembly of the bones. Accordingly, a deficiency can be momentous and in children, for example, to the bone disease „rickets“ lead, among other things by muscle weakness, increased constipation tendency and bone softening on the skull or irreversible bone deformities is characterized. Even in adults, too little vitamin D can have serious consequences, such as painful bone softening (osteomalacia) or even bone loss (osteoporosis), causing the skeleton to lose stability and increase the risk of bone fractures.
Study with 1,658 senior citizens from 65 years
The consequences of vitamin D deficiency for bone health have long been known. But now an international research team has apparently gained new insights that specifically affect the elderly. It had long been suspected that low levels of vitamin D in the blood could possibly be associated with the onset of senile dementia and Alzheimer's. To this „suspicion“ David J. Llewellyn of the UK University of Exeter and his team conducted an extensive study, and over the course of six years, assisted 1,658 senior citizens over the age of 65 years.
Context twice as strong as expected
As the scientists write in the journal "Neurology", none of the subjects were affected by senile dementia, cardiovascular diseases or the consequences of a stroke at the beginning of the study, moreover, all would have been able to go without aids. Based on this state of health, the scientists studied in the following years, as many of the participants in neurodegenerative diseases fell ill. With sad success: „We had expected a correlation between low vitamin D levels and the risk of Alzheimer's and dementia, but the results were surprising - the correlation we found was actually twice as strong as expected“, so the researchers in their article.
More than 50 nanomoles per liter necessary for a healthy mind in old age?
Accordingly, it was found that the risk of nervous system disease was already increased by about one-half in a mild deficiency compared with the participants who were sufficiently provided with the sunshine vitamin. For the subjects with severe vitamin D deficiency, the risk increased even more than twice. Accordingly, the researchers were able to determine that a concentration of more than 50 nanomoles per liter appears to be the minimum required to maintain a healthy mind as they age. An interesting insight, because the body covers up to 90 percent of its vitamin D requirement itself by forming it under the influence of UV light in the skin. However, as you age, this ability to produce your own vitamin decreases, which in turn increases your risk of deficiency. The body can also ingest the vitamin from other sources - especially high-fat fish (salmon, eel, herring or tuna), but also vegetable foods (such as morels, boletus and avocados) or supplements. Accordingly, according to the researchers, the next step is to explore the effect of alternative sources: „Now, clinical studies are needed to show if food such as fatty fish or vitamin D supplements can stop or even prevent the onset of Alzheimer's or similar dementia, "said David J. Llewellyn.
Investigators warn: Do not jump to conclusions from the study
Until then, no hasty conclusions should be drawn from the study, the researchers continue: „At this early stage, we need to be careful, and our results do not say that low levels of vitamin D are bound to cause dementia. "In summary, however, the results could be described as encouraging and potentially bringing huge benefits to the aging health of many people. „Lack of light as a risk factor for dementia is one of the most important tasks of today's health researchers. While previous studies have suggested that a deficiency of the sunshine vitamin is associated with an increased risk of Alzheimer's disease, this study has shown that people with a very low vitamin D level were more than twice as likely to be at risk, to develop any form of dementia“, so the comment from Dr. Doug Brown, Research and Development Manager of the „Alzheimer's Society“. (No)
Picture: Angela Parszyk