Vitamin D linked to Brain Damage

Vitamin D is not only essential in maintaining bone-health, but also in preventing brain damage.

A new study, conducted by researchers at University of Kentucky has found that the sunshine vitamin plays an important role in preventing brain damage caused by free radicals.

Earlier research has shown that a high intake of vitamin D reduces fracture risk in older adults. Another research had shown that taking Vitamin D and calcium prolongs life and keeps mood swings away. It also prevents weight gain in women who have hit menopause. A vitamin D deficiency might lead to depression.

The study was based on 27 male rats. The rodents were split into two groups with one getting a diet that's low in vitamin D. Researchers then studied their brain development and found that rats on low vitamin D had high levels of brain damage when compared to those on high levels of the vitamin.

"Given that vitamin D deficiency is especially widespread among the elderly, we investigated how during aging from middle-age to old-age how low vitamin D affected the oxidative status of the brain," said lead author on the paper Allan Butterfield, professor in the UK Department of Chemistry, according to a news release. "Adequate vitamin D serum levels are necessary to prevent free radical damage in brain and subsequent deleterious consequences."

The study is published in the journal Free Radical Biology and Medicine.                            

Many people, especially senior citizens, have inadequate levels of vitamin D. According to Butterfield, people can get their vitamin D levels checked by their physicians. Those suffering from a deficiency can resort to diet change, take supplements or even get about 10-15 minutes of sun exposure every day.