The Role of Vitamin D in Brain Health: A Mini Literature Review
Vitamin D is vital for our body as it regulates calcium homeostasis and maintains bone integrity. In this article, we will discuss how vitamin D aids in the function of neuronal and glial tissue and the many health consequences in a person with vitamin D deficiency. Some of the effects of vitamin D deficiency that will be discussed include the development of dementia caused by the increase of cerebral soluble and insoluble amyloid-β (Aβ) peptides and a decrease of its anti-inflammatory/antioxidant properties, the link to depression by a reduction of the buffering of increased calcium in the brain, and vitamin D deficiency in expecting mothers linking to the development of autism and schizophrenic-like disorders, hypoxic brain injury, and other mental illnesses. Lastly, we will discuss how vitamin D deficiency is linked to the development of diabetes mellitus, its role in neuronal development and a decrease of microglial inflammatory function leading to increased brain infections.
Adult vitamin D deficiency disrupts hippocampal-dependent learning and structural brain connectivity in BALB/c mice
The aim of the current study was to examine the effect of adult vitamin D (AVD) deficiency on hippocampal-dependent spatial learning, and hippocampal volume and connectivity in healthy adult mice.
We found a reduction in PNN positive cells, but no change in PV, centred on the hippocampus. Our results provide compelling evidence to show that AVD deficiency in otherwise healthy adult mice may play a key role in hippocampal-dependent learning and memory formation. We suggest that the spatial learning deficits could be due to the disruption of right hippocampal structural connectivity.
Vitamin B12 deficiency can be sneaky, harmful
The human body needs vitamin B12 to make red blood cells, nerves, DNA, and carry out other functions. The average adult should get 2.4 micrograms a day. Like most vitamins, B12 can’t be made by the body. Instead, it must be gotten from food or supplements.
And therein lies the problem: Some people don’t consume enough vitamin B12 to meet their needs, while others can’t absorb enough, no matter how much they take in. As a result, vitamin B12 deficiency is relatively common, especially among older people.
The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey estimated that 3.2% of adults over age 50 have a seriously low B12 level, and up to 20% may have a borderline vitamin B12 deficiency.
A serious vitamin B12 deficiency can be corrected two ways: weekly shots of vitamin B12 or daily high-dose B12 pills. A mild B12 deficiency can be corrected with a standard multivitamin.
In many people, a vitamin B12 deficiency can be prevented. If you are a strict vegetarian or vegan, it’s important to eat breads, cereals, or other grains that have been fortified with vitamin B12, or take a daily supplement. A standard multivitamin delivers 6 micrograms, more than enough to cover the average body’s daily need.
If you are over age 50, the Institute of Medicine recommends that you get extra B12 from a supplement, since you may not be able to absorb enough of the vitamin through foods. A standard multivitamin should do the trick.
Neurologic symptoms as the only manifestation of B12 deficiency in a young patient with normal hematocrit, MCV, peripheral blood smear and homocysteine levels
B12 deficiency is associated with several neurological manifestations. It is well documented that neurologic symptoms due to B12 deficiency may sometimes present in the absence of anemia. However, in most cases there are several indicating factors like megaloblastic changes in complete blood count, hypersegmentated neutrophils or macroovalocytes in peripheral blood smear and abnormal homocysteine levels. In this report, we describe a case of a 32-year-old man with neurological symptomatology as the only manifestation of B12 deficiency with normal hematocrit, mean cell volume, peripheral blood smear and homocysteine levels.
All the above emphasize the point that patients with neurologic symptoms must be screened for B12 deficiency even in the absence of any laboratory evidence.