May 28, 2010

Vitamin D and mental health – an easy solution for serious problems?

Alzheimer's, Depression, Prevention, Schizophrenia — Tags: , , — 8:14 am
What is the problem?
Vitamin D deficiency has been linked not only to bone health, but also some types of cancer, lowered immune function, and kidney disease. Recent studies showed that vitamin D may preserve cognitive function exerting its neuroprotective effects via the vitamin D receptors abundantly expressed in regions frequently affected in cases of neurodegenerative diseases such as the hypothalamus, substantia nigra, cortex and hippocampus. An increased incidence of Alzheimer’s disease, schizophrenia and depression (including depression as a symptom of fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome, Clinical Rheumatology 1434-9949, 26, 4, April 2007) associated with vitamin D deficiency were reported (J Chem Neuroanat 2005;29:21-30.)
What are the causes?
Decreased bioavailability of vitamin D can be caused by malabsorption often present in cystic fibrosis, celiac disease, Whipple’s disease, Crohn’s disease, bypass surgery, and medications that reduce cholesterol absorption. 86,87
Obesity also educes availability of vitamin D locking it in the body fat depots.
Anticonvulsants, glucocorticoids
Inadequate sun exposure including that due to excessive sunscreen use
(N Engl J Med 2007;357:266-81)
Prevention by supplementation
Most experts agree that current recommendations for daily intake of vitamin D are in fact inadequate: without adequate sun exposure, children and adults require approximately 800 to 1000 IU per day (J Clin Invest 2006;
116:2062-72; Primer on the metabolic bone diseases and disorders of mineral metabolism. 6th ed. Washington, DC: American
Society for Bone and Mineral Research, 2006:129-37; Endocrinology. Philadelphia: W.B.Saunders, 2001:1009-28)

Related post: Both hypervitaminosis D3 and hypovitaminosis D3 cause premature aging of CNS

What is the problem?

Vitamin D deficiency has been linked not only to bone health, but also some types of cancer, lowered immune function, and kidney disease. Recent studies showed that vitamin D may preserve cognitive function exerting its neuroprotective effects via the vitamin D receptors abundantly expressed in regions frequently affected in cases of neurodegenerative diseases such as the hypothalamus, substantia nigra, cortex and hippocampus. An increased incidence of Alzheimer’s disease, schizophrenia and depression (including depression as a symptom of fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome, Clinical Rheumatology 1434-9949, 26, 4, April 2007) was proved to be associated with vitamin D deficiency  (J Chem Neuroanat 2005;29:21-30.)

What are the causes?

  • Decreased bioavailability of vitamin D can be caused by malabsorption often present in cystic fibrosis, celiac disease, Whipple’s disease, Crohn’s disease, bypass surgery, and medications that reduce cholesterol absorption.
  • Obesity also educes availability of vitamin D locking it in the body fat depots.
  • Anticonvulsants, glucocorticoids
  • Inadequate sun exposure including that due to excessive sunscreen use

(N Engl J Med 2007;357:266-81)

Prevention by supplementation

Most experts agree that current recommendations for daily intake of vitamin D are in fact inadequate: without adequate sun exposure, children and adults require approximately 800 to 1000 IU per day (J Clin Invest 2006; 116:2062-72; Primer on the metabolic bone diseases and disorders of mineral metabolism. 6th ed. Washington, DC: American  Society for Bone and Mineral Research, 2006:129-37; Endocrinology. Philadelphia: W.B.Saunders, 2001:1009-28)

April 21, 2010

Metabolic syndrome and mental health

Alzheimer's, Brain Basics, Brain Metabolism, Schizophrenia — Tags: , , — 7:54 am

The metabolic syndrome’s area of influence seems to be growing startlingly fast. Latest research revealed its link to mental health problems. Researchers discovered that insulin resistance can be “in your head” and created a new medical term, the “type 3 diabetes” referring to the newly discovered insulin receptors in the brain.

Researchers at Rhode Island Hospital showed that insulin resistance is tied to neurodegeneration. A drop in insulin production in the hippocampus — the part of the brain responsible for memory — can contribute to early stages of Alzheimer’s disease. In the frontal cortex of the brain, a major area affected by Alzheimer’s, the levels of insulin receptors and the brain’s ability to respond to insulin decreased.

Whether or not an insulin shortage causes a breakdown in brain cell communication, which would explain another brain disease, schizophrenia, remains unknown, but people with schizophrenia are at least twice as likely to develop Type 2 diabetes. ”There’s a whole series of steps that may prevent the schizophrenic brain from responding to insulin,” said Dr Altar of the Psychiatric Genomics Center in Boston, which is now focusing on potential treatments for schizophrenia.

Sources:

Dementia and Geriatric Cognitive Disorders, 2007;23:29-34
JAMA. 2004; 292:2237-2242
J Alzheimer’s Disease; March 2005
J Alzheimer’s Disease; November 2005

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