Recent study supports a causal relationship between vitamin D and Alzheimer’s disease
Posted on: December 16, 2016 by Amber Tovey
https://www.vitamindcouncil.org/rec..._eid=032f6d7ee3
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A recent Mendelian randomization study published in the journal Neurology found that lower vitamin D status is a risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease.
Approximately one in nine people age 65 and older has Alzheimer’s disease (AD), affecting a total of 5.4 million Americans. The devastating disease will continue to cause a significant social and economic burden until an effective prevention method has been discovered.
In recent years, observational studies have provided evidence supporting the association between low vitamin D levels and increased risk of AD. However, these findings are limited due to the study design’s inability to prove causation. Thus, researchers recently aimed to clarify the causal relationship between vitamin D and AD by conducting a Mendelian randomization study design.
Mendelian randomization studies provide a helpful alternative to randomized controlled trials by utilizing genes to examine the causal effect of vitamin D. For further information on how Mendelian randomization studies work, Will Hunter explained the study design in a previous blog.
The researchers assessed four genetic variants (known as single nucleotide polymorphisms or SNPs) that are strongly associated with lower vitamin D status. They wanted to know whether people who are genetically prone to vitamin D deficiency have higher odds of developing AD.
The researchers discovered that for every reduction in vitamin D status by one standard deviation (SD), the risk of AD increased by 25%.
For example, to decrease vitamin D levels by 1 SD on the natural log-transformed scale:
• If the patient was at 14.4 ng/mL, they would have to decrease their 25OHD levels to 10 ng/ml.
• If the patient was at 29.2 ng/ml, they would have to decrease their 25OHD levels to 20 ng/ml
• If the patient was at 44 ng/ml, they would have to decrease their 25OHD level to 30 ng/ml.
The researchers concluded,
“Our [Mendelian randomization] analysis provides evidence to support a causal role of vitamin D in the risk of AD.”
They continued,
“While previous work has identified possible risk factors for AD such as cholesterol and blood pressure with much larger effect sizes, our results identify vitamin D as an additional factor that can provide a smaller yet important reduction in risk. This provides critical insight into a disease that remains poorly understood and furthermore offers a simple mechanism for individuals to decrease their risk of AD by ensuring vitamin D sufficiency.”
The researchers called for long term randomized controlled trials to assess the use of vitamin D supplements for the prevention of AD.
Citation
Tovey, A. & Cannell, JJ. Recent study supports a causal relationship between vitamin D and Alzheimer’s disease. The Vitamin D Council Blog & Newsletter, 2016.
Source
Mokry, L. Morris, A. Despoina M. & Richards, B. Genetically decreased vitamin D and risk of Alzheimer disease. Neurology, 2016.
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2 Responses to Recent study supports a causal relationship between vitamin D and Alzheimer’s disease
This study looked at genes which lower vitamin D levels in the BLOOD and found a 25% increase in Alzheimer’s Disease
A previous study looked at a gene which lower the Vitamin D levels in the CELLS and found a 300% increase in Alzheimer’s Disease
http://vitamindwiki.com/tiki-index.php?page_id=8094
Low sun Western Oregon is a state that has one of highest percentage of Autism and MS. About 30% of neurologists now treat their MS patients with vitamin D3 supplementation in the USA according to Neurology medical journal. It eliminated my allergy to grass with Oregon one of largest provider of golf course grass in the world. Vitamin D3 at higher levels as largely a vegetarian than usually taken has brought up my blood levels to 70 ng/ml 25-hydroxy-vitamin D inactive metabolite. This level also cured my psoriasis on my legs, arms, and scalp and a terminal autoimmune disease Bullous Pemphigoid covering my whole body where infections usually lead to death.