Effectiveness of vitamin D supplements in the patients suffering from Alzheimer disease

Abstract

Introduction: Vitamin D is a steroid hormone. It crosses the blood brain barrier and binds with receptors present in neurons and glial cells of various parts of central nervous system like hippocampus, cortex, sub-cortex etc. Due to its antioxidant property and regulating intra-neuronal calcium homeostasis, it can be hypothesized that vitamin D has a role to play in preventing age related cognitive decline. Materials and Methods: Total of 160 patients were included in the study. MMSE is useful for evaluating the subjects having dementia syndrome because these subjects cooperate well only for short duration. Mini Mental state examination score was used for the assessment of dementia. They were included in the study on the basis of serum vitamin D level and MMSE score. Results: The collected data showed that mean serum vitamin D levels were found to be lower in group A when compared to group B. After 3 months of treatment with supplements, the score of post treatment MMSE was found to be higher in group A as compared to group B. After 6 months of treatment with supplements, the score of post treatment MMSE was found to be higher in group A as compared to group B. Discussion & Conclusion: Vitamin D acts like a neurosteroid hormone in areas of neurotransmission and neuro-immunomodulation. Patients on medical therapy for dementia has also shown improve results with regulation of vitamin D. It has also exhibited neuro-protective properties against glutamate toxicity through antioxidant effects thus preventing apoptosis. The present study is one of on-going steps in the direction of establishing role of Vitamin D in prevention and treatment of senile dementia.