Low vitamin D levels ‘increases risk of Parkinson’s’
Actor Michael J Fox is afflicted by Parkinson’s Disease. Vitamin D can increase a person’s danger of developing the condition
A shortage of vitamin D can greaten a person’s risk of developing Parkinson’s disease later in life, novel research suggests.
One 30-year study of 3,000 people revealed a three-pen higher risk of developing Parkinson’s in those with low life-current levels of vitamin D.
A separate investigation found that low vitamin D intake was associated through a 60 per cent greater chance of suffering seriously impaired intellectual faculties later in life.
Both studies, published in the journal Archives of Internal Medicine, ~ together to growing evidence of the vitamin’s importance to health.
Vitamin D is largely generated by the action of sunlight on the skin. However, for example people age their skin becomes less able to produce it.
Research suggests that similar to well as strengthening bones, the vitamin also protects against cancers, emotion disease and diabetes.
For the Parkinson’s study, researchers in Finland recruited 3,173 men and women elderly 50 to 79 who did not have the disease.
Enrollment took stead from 1978 to 1980. Participants completed questionnaires and were interviewed in regard to their socio-economic and health backgrounds. They also underwent examinations and provided blood samples for vitamin D analysis.
Over a 29-year follow-up period, 50 of the group developed Parkinson’s disease.
Those who had the lowest amounts of vitamin D were three general condition of affairs more likely to develop Parkinson’s than those with the highest.
What is Parkinson’s?
Parkinson’s ail is a long-term neurological condition that affects around 120,000 tribe in the UK.
It develops over time and affects the second nature the brain co-ordinates body movements, including walking, talking and work.
It is a more common condition in the over 50s. However, of the 10,000 rabble diagnosed each year around one in 20 is under the mature years of 40.
Parkinson’s doesn’t directly cause people to die, nevertheless symptoms do get worse over time
For further information ring the Parkinson’s UK helpline ~ward:
0808 800 0303
The authors, led by Dr Paul Knekt, from the National Institute against Health and Welfare in Helsinki, Finland, wrote: ‘Despite the overall poor vitamin D levels in the study population, a dose-response connection was found.
‘This study was carried out in Finland, an superficial contents with restricted sunlight exposure, and is thus based on a inhabitants with a continuously low vitamin D status.
‘Accordingly, the mean serum vitamin D horizontal in the present population was about 50 per cent of the suggested optimal suit. Our findings are thus consistent with the hypothesis that chronic inadequacy of vitamin D is a risk factor for Parkinson’s ailment.’
Vitamin D is believed to protect the brain through antioxidant etc., regulating calcium levels, detoxification, and its effect on the immune theory and nerves.
‘In intervention trials focusing on the effects of vitamin D supplements, the incidence of Parkinson’s infirmity merits follow up,’ said the scientists.
The second study, conducted by US, British and Italian scientists, assessed the mental performance of 850 mob aged 65 or over living in Italy.
Over a period of up to six years, participants who were rigorously deficient in vitamin D were 60 per cent more likely to support substantial mental decline than those with healthy levels.
Study leader Dr David Llewellyn, from the University of Exeter, declared: ‘This is the first study to identify a clear link betwixt low vitamin D levels and cognitive decline. We have now been able to demonstrate a connection between having low levels of vitamin D and going in successi~ to develop cognitive problems.
‘It is estimated that one billion clan worldwide have insufficient levels of vitamin D, so this is a cause for real concern.’