Vitamin D and Parkinson’s Disease

Abstracted By Jessica Patella, ND from “High Prevalence of Hypovitaminosis D Status in Patients with Early Parkinson Disease.” From the Archives of Neurology in the 68th volume of 2011. A recent study has compared the prevalence of vitamin D insufficiency in healthy adults compared to Parkinson’s patients, and has shown that levels of vitamin D insufficiency in Parkinson’s patients were 55%, compared to the healthy adults which was 36%. Posted September 28, 2012.


As many as one million Americans live with Parkinson’s disease, with an estimated 60,000 diagnosed each year (1). It has recently been suggested that low vitamin D levels may play a role in the cause or progression of Parkinson’s disease (2,3). Recent research supported this hypothesis, showing vitamin D deficiency in patients with early Parkinson’s disease (2).
Two main reasons support the hypothesis that low vitamin D plays a role in Parkinson’s disease. First, receptors that receive vitamin D are widespread in the spinal cord and brain; supporting the fact that vitamin D is necessary for the nervous system (2,3). Secondly, enzymes that activate vitamin D are widely found in the areas of the brain that are affected by Parkinson’s disease and other disorders of walking and balance (2,4).
With this knowledge, researchers examined blood levels of vitamin D (25(OH)D) in 157 participants diagnosed within the last five years with mild symptoms of early Parkinson’s disease. At baseline, the average vitamin D level was 26.3 ng/mL, indicating insufficient levels. Overall, 69.4% of participants showed vitamin D insufficiency and 26.1% had vitamin D deficiency at baseline. Vitamin D insufficiency was defined as vitamin D levels less than 30.0 ng/mL and vitamin D deficiency less than 20.0 ng/mL (2).
After approximately one-year, vitamin D levels were measured again, with an average vitamin D level of 31.3 ng/mL. At the final visit, 51.6% of participants showed vitamin D insufficiency and 7.0% had vitamin D deficiency. These results were not expected, since the percentages of participants with insufficiency and deficiency were less than at baseline. This change cannot be explained by season since final visits were during the winter months. Also, none of the participants reported taking any supplemental vitamin D.
These results support the hypothesis that long-term vitamin D insufficiency is present before clinical symptoms of Parkinson’s disease and may play a role in the cause of Parkinson’s disease (2). A recent study has compared the prevalence of vitamin D insufficiency in healthy adults compared to Parkinson’s patients, and has shown that levels of vitamin D insufficiency in Parkinson’s patients were 55%, compared to the healthy adults which was 36%. According to the study, significantly more Parkinson’s patients had insufficient vitamin D levels than the healthy adults. (5)
It is important to have adequate levels of vitamin D levels, since it is suggested that vitamin D plays a role in Parkinson’s disease. Vitamin D supplementation is helpful, and one study has found that participants who took 1600 IU of daily vitamin D increased blood levels of vitamin D (25(OH)D) from 29.9 ng/ml to 39.0 ng/ml in a period of 12 months, which is significantly higher than then the levels of Parkinson’s patients whose levels were 31.3 ng/ml. (6)
In conclusion, there is a high prevalence of vitamin D insufficiency and deficiency in participants with recent onset of Parkinson’s disease. Also, vitamin D levels did not decrease with the disease progression. Future research is needed to clarify the progression of vitamin D levels with Parkinson’s related symptoms and the potential role in the cause and progression of Parkinson’s Disease (2).
Jessica Patella, ND, is a naturopathic physician specializing in nutrition and homeopathic medicine and offers a holistic approach to health. She earned her ND from Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine in Tempe, AZ, and is a member of the North Carolina Association of Naturopathic Physicians. Visit her website at http://www.awarenesswellness.com

REFERENCES:
Statistics on Parkinson’s Disease. Parkinson’s Disease Foundation.
Evatt M, et al. High Prevalence of Hypovitaminosis D Status in Patients with Early Parkinson Disease. Arch Neurol 2011. 68: 314-319.
Newmark HL, Newmark J. Vitamin D and Parkinson’s disease: a hypothesis. Mov Disord. 2007; 22 (4): 461-468.
Eyles DW, et al. Distribution of the vitamin D receptor and 1 alpha-hydroylase in human brain. J Chem Neuroanat. 2005; 29(1): 21-30.
Evatt LM, et al. Prevalence of Vitamin D Insufficiency in Patients With Parkinson Disease and Alzheimer Disease. Arch Neurol. 2008: 65(10): 1348-1352.
Binkley N, et al. Evaluation of ergocalciferol or cholecalciferol dosing 1,600 IU daily or 50,000 IU monthly in older adults. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2011: 96(4):981-988.
http://www.naturalhealthresearch.org/nhri/?p=21344