Health
High-dose vitamin D linked to higher cognitive scores in small preliminary study
Emory University researchers observed a 13% increase in cognitive assessment scores among at-risk older adults taking daily doses of at least 5,000 IU.
The short version
- An Emory University study found that older adults with sleep issues and mild cognitive impairment who took at least 5,000 IU of vitamin D daily scored over 13% higher on a cognitive screening test than non-users.
- Lower daily doses did not correlate with improved scores, and outcomes were comparable between vitamin D2 and D3 forms.
- Researchers characterized the findings from the 54-participant study as preliminary, indicating that further research is needed to determine clinical efficacy.
Key facts
- A study published in Sleep Medicine evaluated 54 older adults experiencing both mild cognitive impairment and sleep disturbances.[ScienceDaily]
- Participants taking 5,000 IU or more of daily vitamin D scored over 13% higher on the Montreal Cognitive Assessment than those taking no supplements, even after adjusting for confounding variables.[ScienceDaily]
- Intake of lower daily doses of vitamin D showed no statistical association with better cognitive scores.[ScienceDaily]
- Cognitive performance outcomes were similar whether participants consumed vitamin D2 or vitamin D3 supplements.[ScienceDaily]
- The research was funded by the National Institute on Aging under National Institutes of Health grants.[ScienceDaily]
What remains uncertain
- The study was preliminary and limited to a sample of 54 participants, leaving the therapeutic effectiveness of high-dose vitamin D unconfirmed without larger clinical trials.[ScienceDaily]
Sources
- This common vitamin was linked to 13% better cognitive scoresScienceDaily - Health