Two recent studies suggest elderly adults shouldn’t skimp on their daily dose of Vitamin D if they wish to keep their mind and heart healthy.
The first study linked low levels of Vitamin D to an increased risk of dementia. According to researchers, older patients who have low levels of Vitamin D intake are about 122 percent more likely to develop mental health complications, like memory loss and dementia.
Dr. David Llewellyn said similar links have been shown in previous studies, but this research provides more accurate findings.
“We were able with much greater accuracy to sort of chart the level of Vitamin D that seems to be relevant to a dementia risk,” said Dr. Llewellyn. “It gives us valuable clues as to the kind of trials we should be doing next, and who we should be treating and with how much Vitamin D.”
For their study, researchers analyzed blood samples from 1,658 patients in 1992 and 1993, then again in 2008. The samples were tested for Vitamin D levels, specifically measuring for serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations. Patients were sorted into three groups based on their levels.
• Less than 25 nmol/L were severely deficient.
• Between 25 nmol/L and 50 nmol/L were deficient.
• Above 50 nmol/L were considered sufficient.
A follow-up analysis of medical records found that patients classified with severely deficient Vitamin D levels were 122 percent more likely to have developed dementia, while those who were classified as deficient were 51 percent more likely to have developed the disease than those with adequate Vitamin D levels.
Heart Health and Vitamin D
Another study found that Vitamin D can help keep a person’s ticker running smoothly.
This study comes from the United Kingdom, and it asked 5,292 subjects to ingest a daily supplement for three years. The participants either received a Vitamin D supplement, a calcium pill, a Vitamin D and calcium pill, or a placebo. Researchers then charted the health of each participant for three years.
After analyzing the data, researchers found that the group who took the Vitamin D supplement saw their risk of heart failure drop by 25 percent compared to groups that did not receive a Vitamin D pill.
The authors concluded, “Vitamin D supplementation might protect against cardiac failure in older people.”
Dr. Silverman comments
We’ve discussed Vitamin D so much on this blog I’m amazed people still fail to get their recommended amount. Whether you get it from food or in the form of a pill, make sure you are conscious about your Vitamin D intake, especially as you get older.
Related sources: Medscape, WorldHealth.net