Over the past decade, researchers have come up
with a vast amount of factual evidence that vitamin D is extremely important to
maintaining health and preventing and even treating multiple physical and
mental health problems. For example, studies have shown that too little vitamin
D may trigger breast cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, brittle bones, heart attacks
and more.
Recently, scientists have discovered two more extraordinary benefits to getting enough vitamin D through sun exposure and supplements. It turns out a lack of the remarkable vitamin could result in sports-related muscle injuries. And what is the most remarkable for subject of this post, vitamin D may help reduce amount and decrease in size amyloid plaques in the brain associated with Alzheimer's disease.
University of Cambridge and University of Michigan Study, 2009
Researchers from the Peninsula Medical School,
the University of Cambridge and the University of Michigan, have for the first
time identified a relationship between Vitamin D, the "sunshine
vitamin", and cognitive impairment in a large-scale study of older people.
The importance of these findings lies in the connection between cognitive
function and dementia: people who have impaired cognitive function are more
likely to develop dementia.
The study was based on
data on almost 2000 adults aged 65 and over who participated in the Health
Survey for England in 2000 and whose levels of cognitive function were
assessed. The study found that as levels of Vitamin D went down, levels of
cognitive impairment went up. Compared to those with optimum levels of Vitamin
D, those with the lowest levels were more than twice as likely to be
cognitively impaired.
In humans, Vitamin D
comes from three main sources – exposure to sunlight, foods such as oily fish,
and foods that are fortified with vitamin D (such as milk, cereals, and soya
drinks). One problem faced by older people is that the capacity of the skin to
absorb Vitamin D from sunlight decreases as the body ages, so they are more
reliant on obtaining Vitamin D from other sources.
Dr. Iain Lang from the Peninsula Medical
School, who worked on the study, commented: "For those of us who live in countries where there are dark
winters without much sunlight, like the UK, getting enough Vitamin D can be a
real problem – particularly for older people, who absorb less Vitamin D from
sunlight. One way to address this might be to provide older adults with Vitamin
D supplements. This has been proposed in the past as a way of improving bone
health in older people, but our results suggest it might also have other
benefits. We need to investigate whether vitamin D supplementation is a cost-effective
and low-risk way of reducing older people's risks of developing cognitive
impairment and dementia."
UCLA
and UC Riverside Study, 2009
UCLA scientists and colleagues from UC Riverside and the Human BioMolecular Research Institute have found that a form of vitamin D, together with a chemical found in turmeric spice called curcumin, may help stimulate the immune system to clear the brain of amyloid beta, which forms the plaques considered the hallmark of Alzheimer's disease.
The early research findings may lead to new approaches in preventing and treating Alzheimer's by utilizing the property of vitamin D3 - a form of vitamin D - both alone and together with natural or synthetic curcumin to boost the immune system in protecting the brain against amyloid beta.
Vitamin D3 is an essential nutrient for bone and immune system health; its main source is sunshine, and it is synthesized through the skin. Deficiencies may occur during winter months or in those who spend a lot of time indoors, such as Alzheimer's patients.
Using blood samples from nine Alzheimer's patients, one patient with mild cognitive impairment and three healthy control subjects, scientists isolated monocyte cells, which transform into macrophages that act as the immune system's clean-up crew, traveling through the brain and body and gobbling up waste products, including amyloid beta. Researchers incubated the macrophages with amyloid beta, vitamin D3 and natural or synthetic curcumin.
Tohoku University Study, 2011
In the new research,
investigators tested the protective properties of vitamin D on unsuspecting lab
mice, and determined that the chemical can work alongside transporter proteins
in the blood-brain barrier for preventing the buildup of amyloid beta peptides
in the human brain. This type of buildup is one of the most well-known
hallmarks of the condition. Experts at the Tohoku University hypothesize that a
lower chance of increased amyloid concentrations leads directly to a lower
chance for a person to develop Alzheimer's.
The study takes a
closer look at how amyloid beta is removed from the brain. It would appear that
this process is dependent on amounts of vitamin D available for use, as well as
on the alterations that age produces in BB transporter proteins. The latter are
responsible for moving amyloid beta in and out of the brain. Previous investigations
have already linked reduced concentrations of vitamin D to memory and cognition
declines, especially in old age. As such, the new research builds up on past
studies, taking them a step further.
Experimentally, the
Japanese research team demonstrated that it's possible to increase the rate at
which amyloid beta is removed from the brain by injecting the test mice with
moderate amounts of vitamin D.
About Vitamin D
Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin found in
foods such as fortified dairy, cereals, eggs and fish oils. It plays an
important role in the formation and maintenance of bones. It also regulates
cell growth and immune function. The National Institutes of Health's Office of
Dietary Supplements recommends 400 to 800 IU of the vitamin, depending on the
age and overall health of health of the individual.
Vitamin D doesn't always get the attention it
deserves, perhaps because very few foods in nature contain vitamin D. The best
sources are salmon, tuna and mackerel (especially the flesh) and fish liver
oils. Beef liver, cheese and egg yolks also contain small amounts.
Also, vitamin D is actually produced in your
body when ultraviolet rays from sunlight strike your skin. The UV rays trigger
synthesis of vitamin D, which then gets converted in your liver into its active
form.
This means one of the best ways to get vitamin
D is to spend about 10-15 minutes a day outside in the sun. Keep in mind that
wearing sunscreen will prevent you from getting adequate vitamin D outdoors. In
the summertime, an easy solution is skipping sunscreen on your legs for the
first 15 minutes in the sun. Just make sure you apply in time to prevent any
burns or damage. Your doctor may also recommend vitamin D supplements to treat
a variety of conditions such as osteoporosis, cancer and diabetes.
Side Effects
Vitamin D supplements are generally safe to
use, although increased amounts of the vitamin may lead to increased calcium
levels in the body. This can cause confusion, disorientation, kidney damage,
nausea, vomiting and poor appetite. The supplements may also interfere with
certain blood pressure and corticosteroid medications.
Precautions
Talk to a doctor before using vitamin D
supplements to determine if they are right for you. You doctor may also suggest
the appropriate dose depending on your age, pre-existing conditions and other
medications you might be taking.
Sources and Additional Information:
