Higher Serum Vitamin D<sub>3</sub> Levels Are Associated with Better Cognitive Test Performance in Patients with Alzheimer’s Disease

Vol. 25, No. 6, 2008

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Original Research Article

Higher Serum Vitamin D₃ Levels Are Associated with Better Cognitive Test Performance in Patients with Alzheimer's Disease
C. Oudshoorn^a, F.U.S. Mattace-Raso^a, N. van der Velde^a, E.M. Colin^b, T.J.M. van der Cammen^a

^aDepartment of Internal Medicine, Section of Geriatric Medicine, and
^bDepartment of Rheumatology, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands

Address of Corresponding Author

Dement Geriatr Cogn Disord 2008;25:539-543 (DOI: 10.1159/000134382)

Key Words

Vitamin D₃
Vitamin B₁
Vitamin B₆
Vitamin B₁₂
Cognition
Alzheimer's disease
Mini-Mental State Examination

Abstract

Background/Aims: Recent studies suggest that vitamin D metabolites may be important for preserving cognitive function via specific neuroprotective effects. No large studies have examined the association between vitamin D status and cognition. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, we analyzed the serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D₃ levels and Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) test scores of 225 older outpatients who were diagnosed as having probable Alzheimer's disease (AD). In addition to the 25-hydroxyvitamin D₃ levels, we analyzed the serum vitamin B₁, B₆ and B₁₂ levels. Results: An association was found between MMSE test scores and serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D₃ levels, with a beta -coefficient of 0.05 (p = 0.01). Vitamin-D-sufficient patients had significantly higher MMSE scores as compared to vitamin-D-insufficient ones. No association was found with the other serum vitamin levels. Conclusions: These data support the idea that a relationship exists between vitamin D status and cognition in patients with probable AD. However, given the cross-sectional design of this study, no causality can be concluded. Further prospective studies are needed to specify the contribution of vitamin D status to the onset and course of cognitive decline and AD.

Author Contacts

Tischa J.M. van der Cammen
Section of Geriatric Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine
Erasmus University Medical Center, PO Box 2040
NL-3000 CA Rotterdam (The Netherlands)
Tel. +31 10 703 59 79, Fax +31 10 703 47 68, E-Mail t.vandercammen@erasmusmc.nl

Article Information

Accepted: March 8, 2008
Published online: May 26, 2008
Number of Print Pages : 5
Number of Figures : 1, Number of Tables : 2, Number of References : 33

Medline Abstract (ID 18503256)

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