The Effects of Vitamin D Deficiency on Neurodegenerative Diseases

Abstract

Approximately 90% of the elderly population in the western countries has at least a mild to moderate vitamin D hypovitaminosis. Besides the well-known function of vitamin D in calcium homeostasis, it has been recently found that several enzymes and receptors involved in its homeostasis are expressed in the nervous system and brain suggesting also an important role in the brain homeostasis. Interestingly, epidemiological and clinical studies found reduced vitamin D level associated with an increased risk of several neurodegenerative disorders. In this chapter, we focus on a potential link between vitamin D and Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, prion disease, and motor neuron disease. Epidemiological studies were summarized, an overview of the known potential underlying pathomolecular mechanisms are given, and results from clinical studies dealing with vitamin D supplementation were presented. As an outlook, recent literature suggesting an impact of vitamin D on autism spectrum disease, depression, and schizophrenia are briefly discussed. In conclusion, the identification of an abundant vitamin D metabolism in the brain and the tight link between the increasing number of several neurological and mental disorders emphasize the need of further research making a clear recommendation of the intake and supplementation of vitamin D in a growing elderly population.

Impact of Vitamin D3 Deficiency on Phosphatidylcholine-/Ethanolamine, Plasmalogen-, Lyso-Phosphatidylcholine-/Ethanolamine, Carnitine- and Triacyl Glyceride-Homeostasis in Neuroblastoma Cells and Murine Brain

“…Based on the fact that about 85% of the elderly population has insufficient vitamin D 3 levels in blood serum, several existing studies suggest a potential link between vitamin D 3 hypovitaminosis and AD. In this context, several negative effects of vitamin D 3 deficiency with respect to neurodegenerative diseases and also several neuroprotective properties of a sufficient vitamin D 3 status relating to the pathophysiological processes associated with AD were found [ 8 , 10 , 19 , 39 ]. Besides these recent findings, detailed information about a possible link between vitamin D 3 and lipid species, which play key roles in the cellular membrane and that influence the proteolytic processing of APP, are still missing.…”

“…Numerous other functions of vitamin D 3 , for example immunomodulatory functions, were reported. Moreover, vitamin D 3 could be associated with several other health disorders, such as cardiovascular disease, metabolic syndrome, insulin resistance, diabetes, different types of cancer, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) as well as neurodegenerative and neuropsychiatric disease [ 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 ].…”

Methylxanthines and Neurodegenerative Diseases: An Update

“…Thus, communication between the CNS and the peripheral nervous system (PNS) is damaged resulting in a potentially disabling neurologic disease. The underlying cause of MS is unclear, however epidemiological studies have shown that low serum levels of Vitamin D, smoking and Epstein-Barr-Virus infections play a role in the development of the disease [ 73 , 74 ].…”

Vitamin D status and disability among patients with multiple sclerosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis

“…Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a multifactorial, autoimmune and inflammatory disorder in the CNS characterized by demyelination, inflammation, and neurodegeneration which is one of the main causes of disability among young adults [1] – [3] . Clinical manifestations of MS include paresthesia, diplopia, visual impairment, fatigue, emotional instability and hypoesthesia [4] , [5] .…”