Giulia Bivona1, Caterina Maria Gambino1, Giorgia Iacolino1, Marcello Ciaccio1,2. 1. Section of Clinical Biochemistry and Clincal Molecular Medicine, Department of Biomedicine, Neuroscience and Advanced Diagnostics, University of Palermo , Palermo , Italy. 2. Department and U.O.C. Laboratory Medicine, University Hospital "Paolo Giaccone" of Palermo , Palermo , Italy.
Abstract
Objective: to summarise the activities that Vitamin D (VD) carries out in the brain and to clarify the potential role of VD in neurological diseases. Methods: a literature research has been performed in Pubmed using the following keywords: 'Vitamin D', 'nervous system', 'brain'. Results: the studies reviewed show that VD contributes to cerebral activity in both embryonic and adult brain, helping the connectivity of neural circuits responsible for locomotor, emotional and reward-dependent behavior. Low VD serum levels have been found in patients affected by Alzheimer Disease, Parkinson Disease, Multiple Sclerosis, Autism Spectrum Disorders, Sleep Disorders and Schizophrenia. Discussion: findings are controversial and should be interpreted with caution, since most of the studies performed have observational study set and few interventional studies are available, producing conflicting results. Overall, it can be stated that the potential role of Vitamin D in neurological diseases is mostly unclear and further randomised controlled trials are needed to understand better whether Vitamin D supplementation treatment can be useful in brain disorders.
Objective: to summarise the activities that Vitamin D (VD) carries out in the brain and to clarify the potential role of VD in neurological diseases. Methods: a literature research has been performed in Pubmed using the following keywords: 'Vitamin D', 'nervous system', 'brain'. Results: the studies reviewed show that VD contributes to cerebral activity in both embryonic and adult brain, helping the connectivity of neural circuits responsible for locomotor, emotional and reward-dependent behavior. Low VD serum levels have been found in patients affected by Alzheimer Disease, Parkinson Disease, Multiple Sclerosis, Autism Spectrum Disorders, Sleep Disorders and Schizophrenia. Discussion: findings are controversial and should be interpreted with caution, since most of the studies performed have observational study set and few interventional studies are available, producing conflicting results. Overall, it can be stated that the potential role of Vitamin D in neurological diseases is mostly unclear and further randomised controlled trials are needed to understand better whether Vitamin D supplementation treatment can be useful in brain disorders.
Authors: Monika Chorąży; Natalia Wawrusiewicz-Kurylonek; Edyta Adamska-Patruno; Olga Zajkowska; Katarzyna Kapica-Topczewska; Renata Posmyk; Adam Jacek Krętowski; Jan Kochanowicz; Alina Kułakowska Journal: J Immunol Res Date: 2020-11-11 Impact factor: 4.818