Effects of vitamin D supplementation on cognitive function and blood Aβ-related biomarkers in older adults with Alzheimer’s disease: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial

• Published in: Journal of neurology, neurosurgery and psychiatry Vol. 90; no. 12; p. 1347
• Main Authors: Jia, Jingya, Hu, Jing, Huo, Xiaoxu, Miao, Rujuan, Zhang, Yanping, Ma, Fei
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England BMJ Publishing Group LTD 01.12.2019
• Subjects: Alzheimer's disease; Biomarkers; Body mass index; Chromatography; Cognitive ability; Dementia; Demography; Disease; Double-blind studies; Family medical history; Gene expression; Intervention; Laboratories; Lifestyles; Mass spectrometry; Nervous system; Patients; Proteins; Scientific imaging; Variance analysis; Vitamin D; China; cognitive function; randomised controlled trial; Aβpeptide; Alzheimer’s disease; vitamin D
• ISSN: 0022-3050; 1468-330X; 1468-330X
• DOI: 10.1136/jnnp-2018-320199

ObjectiveOur study aimed to assess the effect of a 12-month vitamin D supplementation on cognitive function and amyloid beta (Aβ)-related biomarkers in subjects with Alzheimer’s disease (AD).Methods This was a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. 210 AD patients were randomly divided into intervention and control groups. Participants received 12-month 800 IU/day of vitamin D or starch granules as placebo. Tests of cognitive performance and Aβ-related biomarkers were measured at baseline, 6 months and 12 months.Results Repeated-measures analysis of variance showed significant improvements in plasma Aβ42, APP, BACE1, APPmRNA, BACE1mRNA (p<0.001) levels and information, arithmetic, digit span, vocabulary, block design and picture arrange scores (p<0.05) in the intervention group over the control group. According to mixed-model analysis, vitamin D group had significant increase in full scale IQ during follow-up period (p<0.001).ConclusionsDaily oral vitamin D supplementation (800 IU/day) for 12 months may improve cognitive function and decrease Aβ-related biomarkers in elderly patients with AD. Larger scale longer term randomised trials of vitamin D are needed.Trial registration numberChiCTR-IIR-16009549.