Characterization of vitamin D supplementation and clinical outcomes in a large cohort of early Parkinson’s disease

Abstract

BackgroundVitamin D (VitD) deficiency is common in Parkinson’s disease (PD) and has been raised as a possible PD risk factor. In the past decade, VitD supplementation for potential prevention of age related conditions has become more common. In this study, we sought to characterize VitD supplementation in early PD and determine as an exploratory analysis whether baseline characteristics or disease progression differed according to reported VitD use.MethodsWe analyzed data from the National Institutes of Health Exploratory Trials in Parkinson’s Disease (NET-PD) Long-term study (LS-1), a longitudinal study of 1741 participants. Subjects were divided into following supplement groups according to subject exposure (6 months prior to baseline and during the study): no VitD supplement, multivitamin (MVI), VitD ≥400 IU/day, and VitD + multivitamin (VitD+MVI). Clinical status was followed using the Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale, Symbol Digit Modalities Test, total daily levodopa equivalent dose, and Parkinson’s Disease Questionnaire.ResultsAbout 5% of subjects took VitD alone, 7% took VitD+MVI, 34% took MVI alone, while 54% took no supplement. Clinical outcomes at 3 years were similar across all groups.ConclusionThis study shows VitD supplementation ≥400 IU/day was not common in early PD and that its use was similar to that seen in the US population. At 3 years, there was no difference in disease progression according to vitamin D supplement use.

Vitamin D Status and Parkinson’s Disease

“…A longitudinal study which enrolled 1741 newly diagnosed PD subjects divided into four groups according to supplementation (no supplementation; multivitamin supplements; multivitamin plus vitamin D; only vitamin D) failed to identify any differences in disease progression across all groups after three years. In fact, no changes in the main outcome measures (Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS), routine daily activities, ADL, Parkinson’s disease questionnaire (PDQ), symbol digit modalities test (SDMT), or levodopa equivalent dose (LED) were detected at the end of follow-up [ 110 ].…”

The Role of Vitamins in Neurodegenerative Disease: An Update

“…This study shows an inverse relationship between VitD level and risk and severity of PD in 2866 PD patients [94]. There is a limited response of VitD supplementation (≥400 IU/day) in early PD patients, and this warrants further study to justify its therapeutic potential [95]. Therefore, more cohort studies of early and late PD patients are needed to illuminate the connection between VitD and PD further.…”

Correlation between 25-hydroxy-vitamin D and Parkinson's disease

“…A large randomised multicentre, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of VitD supplementation (≥400 IU/day) given to patients with early PD (<5 years of PD disease) showed that patients taking VitD supplementation did not alter early disease progression, but continued supplementation with VitD still had the potential to reduce the incidence of disability associated with bone health, as osteoporosis is more common in PD and the risk of falls and risk of fracture increases with disease progression. These data may be useful in designing studies to test the effects of vitamin D supplementation over a longer time frame ( Luthra et al, 2018 ). Therefore, more cohort studies of early and late PD patients are needed to illuminate the connection between VitD and PD further.…”