Vitamin D and Parkinson's

[M1tz1]

You've probably seen this before. I came upon this on YouTube. Those of you who haven't encountered it may find it helpful

youtu.be/9HHK6SAehzU(Not working as expected?)

[park_bear]

Vitamin D is well worth adding to one's supplement regimen:

From a study by Trivedi. This study had 2686 participants.

bmj.com/content/326/7387/46...

"Objective: To determine the effect of four monthly vitamin D supplementation on the rate of fractures in men and women aged 65 years and over living in the community.

Design: Randomised double blind controlled trial of 100,000 IU oral vitamin D3 ... supplementation or matching placebo every four months over five years...

Results: After five years 268 men and women had incident fractures, of whom 147 had fractures in common osteoporotic sites (hip, wrist or forearm, or vertebrae). Relative risks in the vitamin D group compared with the placebo group were 0.78 (... P=0.04) for any first fracture and 0.67 (... P=0.02) for first hip, wrist or forearm, or vertebral fracture. 471 participants died. The relative risk for total mortality in the vitamin D group compared with the placebo group was 0.88 (...P=0.18)."

So this study found that vitamin D prevents fractures and that this result was statistically significant. They also found improvements in all cause mortality and cardiovascular disease that did not reach statistical significance.

[M1tz1 in reply to park_bear]

Thank you park_bear. I wonder if there's an equivalent result taking less than this large amount but more frequently.

[park_bear in reply to M1tz1]

That dosing was for the convenience of the investigators who sent it out by mail. There is no reason to doubt that a smaller more frequent dose would work at least as well.

[Gioc in reply to park_bear]

With vitamin D intake for a long time what daily dose is best to take?

[park_bear in reply to Gioc]

I take 10,000 IU daily.

[Gioc in reply to park_bear]

thank I start take 4000 IU whit vitamin A from a two months, I wondered if it was enough, I do not miss the sun on my skin.

[park_bear in reply to Gioc]

You can get your blood level measured which is best way to determine if you are taking the optimum dosage.

[M1tz1 in reply to park_bear]

Yes but my GP would likely claim that I'm overdosing. Maybe I'm on my own with this!

[park_bear in reply to M1tz1]

Blood levels are an impartial arbiter.

[M1tz1 in reply to park_bear]

To give you an idea of local recommendations here in South Africa, my pill container says to take 1 tab daily and each contains 1000ius.

[park_bear in reply to M1tz1]

Typical and minimal - no worse than elsewhere.

[M1tz1]

I don't know, GioCas. I think that the 'official' recommendation is probably far short of what is adequate. Vitamins A and D have always been seen as not safe in high amounts but I get the impression that past limits are probably not nearly enough; and I think our doctors are guided by old 'safe' values.

[Gioc in reply to M1tz1]

Mah! I have seen so many people taking non-water-soluble vitamins and then suspecting that they were not doing very well, but it is para-medicine. That is supposedly deductive but it is not known.

[bassofspades]

I just today learned that vit d promotes gdnf production.

[bassofspades in reply to bassofspades]

As i sit here poolside in Florida im healing my neurons!

[M1tz1 in reply to bassofspades]

Hahahaha, bassofspades. Lucky you. It's winter here and Johannesburg is at an altitude of 6000 ft. Very cold. Poolside is not an option for 82-yr-old me. I have to swallow my D3.

[bassofspades in reply to M1tz1]

Sorry I moved here 4 yrs ago. I still love to brag!

[Mjm012 in reply to bassofspades]

🤣😂

[Farooqji]

Vitamin D potently induces GDNF expression

sciencedirect.com/science/a...

"Vitamin D is a potent inducer of endogenous GDNF. The most prominent feature of GDNF is its ability to support the survival of dopaminergic neurons."

[sdolly]

Just a word of caution, my husband is the one with Parkinson's, but he also has a disease called Sarcoidosis. With this disease there is a dis-regulation of Vitamin D and it is often first diagnosed when people fall ill after a long exposure to sunlight, such as a beach holiday. It would be extremely dangerous for him to take a supplement. He even had a period of almost 2 years when he had to spend most of his time in a darkened room and could only go out with a balaclava and very strong sunglasses on, otherwise he would become ill. It's a fairly rare disease, but widespread enough to warrant some sort of warning on Vit D supplements in my opinion.

[M1tz1 in reply to sdolly]

Thank you for this important information, sdolly. With best wishes for you and your husband.

[LAJ12345]

I just read an article on circadian rhythms which say says lack of bright light might be a cause of PD. Perhaps the lack of sunlight causes PD AND deficiency of vitamin D?

[Natlp2]

vitamindcouncil.org/

You must be tested. Everyone absorbs Vit D differently. Get your levels up to around 80 (most docs will only say you need the minimum, but do your research...higher is better). If you're low, they might start you on a large dose and then retest in a few months. Once you reach good level, usually about 2000 IU is a good daily maintenance dose.

[Natlp2]

nutritionfacts.org/video/th...

nutritionfacts.org/video/ho...

[Hidden]

Note to all: We live in Florida, with year-round sun and outdoor activity, and my mother (80), husband with PD (71), and I (54) have all been found to have severe Vitamin D deficiency. Amazing, because my mother gardens and swims daily in her outdoor heated pool, my husband gardens and fishes, and I swim in an outdoor pool and do a lot of yard work.

Clinical studies as well as anecdotal reports among doctors have shown that despite heavy sun exposure, a person can have vitamin D deficiency. Basically, as one ages, the ability of the skin to absorb and process the Vitamin D is greatly reduced. There was a research study several years ago that discovered that a percentage of older farmers who were outside for the better part of the day had vitamin D deficiency.

I don't know about other countries, but here in the US most doctors--especially in a location like Florida and Arizona, which have high numbers of elderly residents--testing for Vitamin D deficiency is taken seriously, and is a routine part of the annual exam for anyone over 50.

We were all recommended (different doctors) to begin with an initial else of 10,000 oral units daily for the first week, and 5000 daily thereafter, forever. It is highly encouraged to take magnesium and K2 simultaneously to allow better absorbtion.

In relation to PD, my husband still has right hand tremors, slowness, imbalance, and slight cognitive dysfunction, but what has IMPROVED is rigidity, stiffness, aches, pains, and overall mood. As another poster mentioned, vitamin D, actually a hormone, affects dopamagenic activity.

More can be learned about vitamin D deficiency using Dr Google.

[Despe in reply to Hidden]

Very interesting! Thanks for sharing.

My husband takes 4,000 IU daily in the drops form. Guess we have to increase to 10,000 IU for a week and 5,000 IU thereafter. We live in a sunny southern state, too!

[Hikoi in reply to Hidden]

Eliza,

That is interesting. I seem to recall reading or hearing that sun block cream may be stopping adequate Vit D absorption.

[JANVAN in reply to Hidden]

And check everything about Dr. Coimbra (but I have to say..., only to practice in cooperation with your GP !)

[M1tz1]

Thank you so much, guys. You've all given me so much to think about and I'll have to see my GP. Some time ago, I suspected that my PwP husband and I were Vit D deficient as we were both indoors most of the time because of his illness. The dr said Ole didn't need supplementation but that I did. Drs here don't give numbers. We just have to take their word for it that our figures are within or outside the norm. So I was put on one Calciferol weekly and that is regularly renewed. Does anyone know how much D3 a calciferol tablet represents. Some of you know that I have not been diagnosed with PD but that I have intentional tremor and my body shakes and wakes me from sleep at night. I was hoping the D3 would help.

[Basih101 in reply to M1tz1]

Calciferol is D2, a drug with possible side effects. D3 is better absorbed - I found that, for me, a tablet did not raise my D levels, but a liquid form did. One drop is usually 1,000 or 2,000 mg. My suggestion is to reach at least 50 on your test.