Vitamin D Impact Cognitive Health?

Throughout the past 20 years, a lot of brain health research has focused on vitamin D and cognitive function. Through these studies, researchers have discovered that healthy levels of this essential fat-soluble micronutrient help transfer information between neurons, support cellular immune factors in the brain, and even protect the structure and function of neurons—which is especially vital as we age. The science is clear: Vitamin D is a key player when it comes to everyday function of the nervous system.

Vitamin D deficiency is now associated with a number of chronic health conditions, thanks to significant research over the last several years. The heart, bones, brain, and immune system are areas already thought to be influenced in one way or another by vitamin D.

This makes sense, if you think about it. The reason that vitamin D is involved in a broad range of bodily functions is that vitamin D plays a significant role in gene expression-a fact highlighted by the wide distribution of vitamin D receptors in human tissue. Some estimates suggest that vitamin D may directly or indirectly affect the expression of up to 1,250 genes-nearly 5% of the total human genome.1

One emerging interest area for vitamin D is brain health. It appears that sufficient vitamin D intake may benefit those with cognitive impairments like dementia.

First of all, however, it’s important to remember that, despite its media attention, vitamin D is not a “miracle” vitamin.

Being Realistic about Vitamin D

While there is no doubt that vitamin D performs a critical regulatory function in the human body, recent evidence from clinical trials and meta-analyses of existing studies is mixed.

Vitamin D Sufficiency

While we know vitamin D deficiency is inversely related to brain health parameters, studies analyzing cognitive function in those who have achieved vitamin D sufficiency is few and far between. Thus, the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health study explored the relationship between cognitive performance and vitamin D levels in healthy middle- to older-aged adults.

Women with sufficient levels of vitamin D had better global cognition (i.e., overall cognitive function) and longer attention spans/attention accuracy. Interestingly, improvement of attention accuracy plateaued around 25(OH)D levels of 32 ng/mL. In men, sufficient vitamin D levels were also associated with improved attention accuracy.

Women in the study had an average serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [i.e., 25(OH)D] level of 31 ng/ml while men averaged 34 ng/ml—both slightly above the clinical cutoff for vitamin D insufficiency of 30 ng/ml. All participants had 25(OH)D levels above 20 ng/ml (which is considered the cutoff for vitamin D deficiency) and were tested for these vitamin D levels and cognitive health and performance metrics throughout the study.

Thanks to the patterns of association between cognitive performance and vitamin D status, researchers determined that a dose-response relationship (i.e., increasing levels of the "sunshine vitamin" to help promote and preserve cognitive function) may exist—especially in women.

This data supports that maintaining vitamin D sufficiency throughout the lifespan is crucial to supporting brain health (and a host of other aspects of our health) now and as we age.

A Critical Nutrient

Despite the recent criticism from different corners regarding the benefits of vitamin D for the prevention of chronic disease, research continues to validate the function of vitamin D in a broad range of areas. An area that is particularly exciting is an investigation of vitamin D’s effects on brain health.

Vitamin D is certainly not a magic bullet; in fact, very few, if any, panaceas exist. Health is multifactorial and is achieved through a diet rich in all essential nutrients, healthy lifestyle practices, and genetic fortune. However, vitamin D continues to show immense promise to support health and improve well-being as a single intervention, as well as in combination with other therapies.

The Takeaway

This important study adds to the ever-growing evidence that achieving (and maintaining) sufficient vitamin D levels supports multidimensional aspects of cognitive function and overall brain health. That being said, it's nearly impossible to get enough vitamin D from sunshine and food alone daily and throughout life. (That's where a high-quality vitamin D3 supplement comes in.)