Low Vitamin D Levels Linked To Brain Damage

LEXINGTON, Ky.A diet low in vitamin D may cause damage to the brain, according to a new study published in the journal Free Radical Biology and Medicine.

University of Kentucky researchers fed middle-aged rats a diet low in vitamin D for several months to study its effects on brain health.

Results showed the rats  developed free radical damage to the brain, and many different brain proteins were damaged as identified by redox proteomics. These rats also showed a significant decrease in cognitive performance on tests of learning and memory. 

"Given that vitamin D deficiency is especially widespread among the elderly, we investigated how during aging from middle-age to old-age how low vitamin D affected the oxidative status of the brain," said lead author Allan Butterfield. Adequate vitamin D serum levels are necessary to prevent free radical damage in brain and subsequent deleterious consequences."

Previously, low levels of vitamin D have been associated with Alzheimer's disease and to the development of certain cancers and heart disease. Butterfield recommends eating foods rich in vitamin D, taking vitamin D supplements and/or getting at least 10-15 minutes of sun exposure each day to ensure that vitamin D levels are normalized for optimal health.