Vitamin D is essential for neurological health. It is synthesized in the skin upon sun exposure and supports calcium absorption and bone health. Low vitamin D levels are common and associated with increased risk of multiple sclerosis (MS), where each 10 nmol/L increase in vitamin D is associated with lower odds of MS lesions and relapses. For other conditions like Parkinson's and Alzheimer's, low vitamin D is linked to higher risk, though the mechanisms are still being explored. Screening and supplementation can help maintain sufficient vitamin D levels to support neurological and overall health.

1. Dr. Rahi Kiran . B
SR I Neurology

2. Objectives
• Tounderstand the mechanism of Vitamin D
metabolism
• Todiscuss the neurologic correlation of
disease and Vitamin D
• Todiscuss treatment and its ramifications of
Vitamin D

3. Introduction
• Only vitamin that can be synthesized from
human body
• Vitamin D is a fat soluble vitamin present in
several molecular forms
– Exists in 2 forms

4.  Upto 90% indians are deficient due to
I. Dark skin
II. veg diet
III. poor sun exposure
IV. not in food fortification program
API text book of Medicine, 9th edition

5. Vit D2 – Ergocalciferol (yeast)----- dietary
Vit D3 – Cholecalciferol (skin, fish in diet) -----skin
Main indicator of Vit D levels, storage and circulating form –
25(OH) Vit D3(calcidiol)(2-3wks)
Main active form – 1,25(OH) Vit D3(calcitriol)(15hrs)

6.  Natural – Cod, Shark & other fish liver oils,
Salmon, Sardines, Mushroom,
Egg yolk, Sunlight exposure.
Fortified food - Milk, butter, Cheese margarine,
Vegetable oils , Infant formula.
Drug suppliments - Vit D2, Vit D3
RDA-15 mcg to 20 mcg(600-800 U/d).

7. UV B
290-315nm
VDR + RXR receptor
DBP

8. METABOLISM OF VITAMIN-D
 Solar UV B rays penetrates skin & converts
7- dehydrocholesterol to previtamin D3
which is converted to Vit D3.
 Vit D2 & D3 from Diet travels in
in chylomicrons ,stored in fat cells
 From skin & diet, vit-D is metabolized to
25-OH Vit D in liver.
 This is metabolized by
1alfa hydroxylase to 1,25 –(OH)
Vit-D (active form) in kidney
 25-OH Vit D is used to determine Vit D
status

9. Integrated metabolism of Vit D,
Calcium & Parathormone
 Calcium , FGF-23 and E’s product 1,25-OH
Vit D decreases the enzyme and major inducers
PTH and hypophosphatemia.
 1,25-OH Vit D decreases own synthesis by
negative feedback & decreases synthesis and
secretion of PTH
 1,25-OH Vit D increases 24 -OHase to form
24,25 (OH)2 vit D (metabolically inactive )
 1,25 OH-Vit D enhances calcium absorption
from small intestine.
 1,25-OHVit D recognized by osteoblast to
increase expression of RANKL , which act on
osteoclasts to maintain calcium & phosphate
level in blood

10. no recommendations are issued for the amount of sun
exposure required to meet vitamin D requirements.
Sun exposure between 10 am-3 pm .
 prolonged exposure to the sun does not cause vitamin D
toxicity - further degraded to the inactive tachysterol and
lumisterol.

11. CNS
 VDR are widely distributed throughout the embryonic
brain (Stumpf et al., 1982) , adult brain in temporal,
orbital, cingulate cortex, thalamus, amygdala ,
hippocampus and the olfactory system.
 Local synthesis of 1,25-(OH)2D is performed by 1a-
hydroxylase-expressing neurons and microglia.

12. CNS
 Vitamin D may also affect processes such as axogenesis.
 Vitamin D has also been reported to inhibit the synthesis of
inducible nitric oxide synthase , an enzyme induced in neurons
and non-neuronal cells during ischemia or in the
neurodegenerative conditions.
 Vitamin D simultaneously targets several factors leading to
neurodegeneration
• Immunoregulatory, antioxidant, anti-ischemic factors
• Clearance of amyloid beta peptide

13. Ageing, Obesity, High Latitude
 Skin - Sunscreen use, Skin pigmentation
 Malabsorption syndrome –
Drugs - Anticonvulsants, Glucocorticoids, HAART,
Immunosupressants
CLD and CKD

14.  Heritable causes- Rickets
Vit D D rickets- Type 1- 1alfa hydroxylase defect
Type 2- VDR defect
Vit D resistant rickets
Hypophosphatemic rickets (autosomal & X linked)

15. API text book of Medicine, 9th edition

16. Serum 25(OH)D- < 30 ng/dl – insufficient
< 20 ng/dl – deficient
< 31 ng/dl - PTH starts to rise
> 32 ng/dl - optimal Ca absorption

17. VITAMIN D DEFICIENCY
 Increase Insulin resistance
 Decrease Insulin production
 Assoc. with Metabolic syndrome
 Assoc. with Congestive Heart Failure
 Increased inflammatory factors
 Increased incidence of Schizophrenia & Depression

18. •SCREENING : only high risk for vitamin D deficiency,
osteoporosis
• malabsorption syndrome,
• black and Hispanic individuals,
• obese persons (BMI >30 kg/m2),
with several other medical conditions

19. How Vitamin D and Its Receptor Affect
Immune Regulation
• Vitamin D can increase expression of:
– Anti inflammatory cytokines
• Vitamin D can decrease expression of:
– Pro inflammatory cytokines

20. Multiple
Sclerosis

21. Multiple Sclerosis
• “Vitamin D has been shown to regulate the
expression of the MS associated HLA-DRB1.”
Loken-Amsrud KI, Holmey T,Bakke SJ et al. Vitamin D and disease activity in multiple sclerosis before and during
interferon-β treatment. Neurology 2012;79:267-273.

22. Multiple Sclerosis
• However,
– “in untreated patients with MS, increasing levels
of Vit D 25 (OH) are inversely associated with
radiologic disease activity irrespective of their
HLA-DRB1*15 status”
Loken-Amsrud KI, Holmey T,Bakke SJ et al. Vitamin D and disease activity in multiple sclerosis before and during
interferon-β treatment. Neurology 2012;79:267-273.

23. Multiple Sclerosis• Each 10 nmol/L increase in 25 (OH) Vit D was
associated with
– 12.7% reduced odds of new T1 gad enhancing
lesions
– 11.7% for new T2 lesions
– 14.1% for combined activity
Loken-Amsrud KI, Holmey T,Bakke SJ et al. Vitamin D and disease activity in multiple sclerosis before and during
interferon-β treatment. Neurology 2012;79:267-273.

24. Multiple Sclerosis
• IFN-β associated with greater production of
Vit D from sun exposure, suggesting that part
of the therapeutic effects on MS relapses may
be through modulation of Vit D metabolism!
Stewart N, Simpson S, van der Mei I, et al. Interferon-β and serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D interact to modulate
relapse risk in MS. Neurology 2012;79:254-260.

25. • So patients on IFN-β should have Vit D levels
maintained in the sufficiency range by
monitoring
Stewart N, Simpson S, van der Mei I, et al. Interferon-β and serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D interact to
modulate relapse risk in MS. Neurology 2012;79:254-260.

26. Multiple Sclerosis
• Why this association with the IFN-β and
Vitamin D?
– How they work unknown but thought to
• Increase IL-10 expression
• Reduce antigen presentation
• Restore the blood-brain barrier
Stewart N, Simpson S, van der Mei I, et al. Interferon-β and serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D interact to modulate relapse
risk in MS. Neurology 2012;79:254-260.

27. Multiple Sclerosis
– Higher Vitamin D levels are associated with
 decreased exacerbation risk in RRMS
– “For each doubling of the serum Vit D 25 (OH)
concentration, the relapse risk in MS decreases by 27%”
Runia TF, Hop WCJ, Buljevac D, Hintzen RQ. Lower serum vitamin D levels are associated
with a higher relapse risk in multiple sclerosis. Neurology 2012;79:261-266.

28. Pregnancy
 Pregnant with higher levels of vitamin D - lower risk of
developing multiple sclerosis (MS) than women with
lower levels, while their babies may not see the same
protective effect,
Salzer, medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology: 2012, 20 Nov

29. Multiple Sclerosis:The Bottom Line
on Vit D 25(OH)
• Appears to influence MS risk and course of
disease
• It is cheap, safe and easy to administer and
could be a valuable addition to treatment

30. Parkinson's disease (PD)
 chronically deficient levels of vitamin D may play a
role in the development of PD.
 Not known how or even if vitamin D levels affect
Parkinson's risk, but the findings are generating interest
in more research.
Archives of Neurology July 2010

31. Parkinson's disease (PD)
• The substantia nigra -VDR is most highly expressed (Eyles
et al., 2005).
• vitamin D positively regulates the expression tyrosine
hydroxylase (Puchacz et al., 1996).
• a higher prevalence of hypovitaminosis D was observed in
patients with Parkinson’s disease, when compared to both
healthy controls and patients with Alzheimer’s disease
(Evatt et al., 2008).
• Finally the vitamin D binding protein (VDBP) has been
recently shown to a cerebrospinal fluid biomarker in
Parkinson’s disease (Zhang et al., 2008).

32. EPILEPSY
 The threshold for provoked seizures is reduced
(Siegeletal.,1984).
 ONLYANIMAL BUT NO HUMAN STUDIES
AVAILABLE

33. DEMENTIA
 those who were deficient in vitamin D had double the
risk of developing dementia.
 Studies suggest that vitamin D protects against
dementia by helping to break down and sweep out
Alzheimer's disease-related proteins and by enhancing
blood flow to the brain
Llewellyn Neurology in 2014

34. DEMENTIA
 a moderate deficiency (10 to 20 ng/mL) was associated
with a 53 percent increased risk of developing dementia
and a 69 percent increased risk of developing
Alzheimer's disease compared to those who had
adequate levels (more than 20 ng/mL).
Llewellyn Neurology in 2014

35. Peripheral neuropathy
– Has been associated with type I and II diabetes as
well as both the microvascular and macrovascular
complications of diabetes
– Has been shown to be common in diabetic
patients who have symptoms of distal symmetrical
polyneuropathy
– Often diagnosed in those with established
diabetes and replacement may prevent or delay
the onset of diabetic complications

36. Myopathy
– Vitamin D is important to maintain healthy
muscles
– Vitamin D deficiency doesn’t normally cause a
significant myopathy, but can cause muscle
weakness

37. • Secondary compression of spinal cord, plexus,
or peripheral nerves from rickets or
osteomalacia

38. Other Effects of Vit D
• Cutaneous hyperalgesia
– Resistant to antidepressants and opiates
– Responds to Vit D correction

39. Depression
 Vitamin D Responsive Elements have been identified in
the promoter regions of serotonin receptors and
tryptophan hydroxylase, two genes associated with
depression.
 In study involving more than 1000 older adults, mean
levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D were found lower in those
with minor and major depression when compared to
controls.
Hoogendijk et al., 2008

40. Schizophrenia
 those born in winter and spring have a significantly
increased risk of developing schizophrenia (Torrey and
Miller, 1997).
 The incidence and prevalence of schizophrenia is also
greater from sites at higher latitudes (Saha et al., 2006).
 The incidence of schizophrenia is also significantly higher
in dark-skinned migrants to cold countries compared to
the native born (Cantor-Graae and Selten, 2005).

41. Inadequate Sun Exposure/ supplementation
60000 IU cholecalciferol every week X 8 weeks then mnthly
for 3-6 months
Chronic Kidney Disease
Stage 2 & 3 : 50000 IU Vit D2 every week X 8 weeks
Stage 4 & 5 : 0.25 – 1.0 mcg calcitriol p.o. a day
Malabsorption- 2.4 lakh IU/ 6mnths i.m.
API text book of Medicine, 9th edition

42. If level is low despite several attempts at correction with oral
vitamin D, a trial of UVB light therapy (ie, by tanning lamps) may
be considered to improve vitamin D status.
Sensible sun exposure, especially between the hours of 10:00 am
and 3:00 pm produces vitamin D in the skin that may last twice as
long in the blood compared with ingested vitamin D.
If sun exposure produces slight pinkness, the amount of vitamin D
produced in response to exposure of the full body is equivalent to
ingesting 10,000-25,000 IU
API text book of Medicine, 9th edition

43. Recommendations and
Conclusions

44. Recommendations and
Conclusions
• Alternative Supplementation
– 15 minutes of noon day sunlight or
– Artificial UVB radiation ( in some tanning bed
biweekly in the buff)
• Gives us 10, 000 IU of 25 (OH) Vit D in fair skinned
people

45. Recommendations and
Conclusions
– UV treated mushrooms
• Potent source up to 75% of daily requirement in a
single 3.5 ounce serving
UV Treated Mushrooms Pop with Vitamin D. Environmental Nutrition. The Newsletter of Food, Nutrition, and
Health. 2013;36(9); pg 2.

46. Conclusions• Interpreting the findings of Vit D studies still
warrants more investigation
– In MS, there is a complex interplay among diverse
multiple environmental factors, including viral
infections, hygiene, UV sunlight exposure, smoking,
and nutrition on genetic vulnerability being implicated
as potential risk for the development of MS
– Vitamin D and VDR especially may affect gene
expression and risk of developing MS! as well as other
diseases