Vitamin D has the potential to prevent dementia
Photo: Maria CUAREMS
Scientists from the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Calgary School of Medicine (Alberta, Canada) analyzed data from the US National Alzheimer’s Coordination Center. “We evaluated the effect of vitamin D on dementia incidence in 12,388 people,” the authors write. The results of the new study are published this week in the Journal of the Alzheimer’s Association.
The experts drew attention to the mental health of people who regularly took vitamin D supplements for an average of 10 years. It turned out that from the age of 70, dementia in such retirees is 40% less common than in those who did not have vitamin supplements. At the same time, the researchers took into account the influence of various factors to objectively determine the exact role of vitamin D, the scientific work highlights.
Several features were also revealed, the explanation of which will be found in the course of further study. Namely:
– in women, the beneficial effect of vitamin D was greater than in men;
– in individuals – carriers of the APOE4 gene variant (this is a variant of the APOE gene, in which the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease is significantly increased), the protective effect is noticeably weaker.
Overall, the study shows that vitamin D has the potential to prevent dementia, the experts conclude.
STAY IN CONTACT
Seven important facts about vitamin D
1. According to experts, vitamin D deficiency occurs in 60-70% of the world’s population. With a lack of sunlight, the deficit increases.
2. The vitamin D content (according to a blood test) is estimated as follows:
– Optimum level: 30 – 50 ng/ml.
– Less than 30 ng/ml – insufficiency. A therapeutic dose of the vitamin is required.
– Less than 20 ng/ml – Deficiency. Associated diseases may develop. Additional tests are recommended.
3. The therapeutic dose of vitamin D is determined and prescribed by an endocrinologist.
If you have not taken an analysis and have not consulted a doctor, then during periods when there is little sunlight (late autumn, winter, early spring), it is recommended to take a maintenance or prophylactic dose. For adults, this is 1,000 to 2,000 international units (IU) per day, or 25 to 50 mcg (package dosage is listed in IU or mcg).
4. People with kidney disease should not take vitamin D supplements.
5. Being outdoors for 10 minutes a day in the bright sun has the same effect as a prophylactic dose of vitamin D. It is important to remember the carcinogenic effect of direct sunlight: the risk of skin cancer is greatly increased if you take the sun between 11 a.m. Hours from 4 p.m.
6. Among vitamin D products, cod liver and fatty varieties of wild marine fish (mackerel, herring, wild salmon) are the most abundant. It is also found in egg yolk, cheese, mushrooms, and beef liver.
! Do not forget that fatty foods are not only high in calories, but also increase the load on the pancreas.
7. Due to metabolic characteristics, vitamin D deficiency is much more common in overweight people.
