Vitamin D deficiency during pregnancy connected to elevated risk of ADHD

The risk of ADHD was 34 percent higher in children whose mother had a vitamin D deficiency during pregnancy than in those children whose mother's vitamin D level was sufficient during the first and second trimesters. The result was adjusted for maternal age, socioeconomic status and psychiatric history. Read ScienceDaily article here

B-group vitamins can improve concentration among people with first episode psychosis

A new study explored the impact of increasing a person's intake of vitamins B12, B6, and folic acid [vitamin B9] after studies in people with schizophrenia revealed that increased intake of these vitamins could decrease patients' levels of an amino acid called homocysteine and improve their symptoms.Read ScienceDaily article here

Vitamin D May Not Protect from Dementia, Alzheimer’s After All

Australian scientists have failed to find evidence that vitamin D can act as a protective neurological agent. The findings are contrary to suggestions that higher levels of vitamin D can provide protection from brain disorders. Read PsychCentral article here

Vitamin D may prevent asthma worsening for some

"Vitamin D supplements protect against severe asthma attacks," The Daily Telegraph reports.

The headline was prompted by a review that pooled data from seven trials comparing taking vitamin D supplements with a placebo in people with asthma.

The researchers wanted to see whether vitamin D reduced the risk of severe asthma episodes that needed hospitalisation or treatment with oral steroids, referred to as "asthma exacerbations".

Overall, the researchers found vitamin D supplements reduced the risk of asthma exacerbations by 26%. Further analysis found the protective effect was only seen in people who were vitamin D deficient to start with.

But the main limitation of this evidence is the small number of exacerbations that occurred. For example, in two trials there were no asthma exacerbations, in another only a single event.

Low vitamin B12 in pregnancy is associated with adipose derived circulating miRs targeting PPARγ and insulin resistance

The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, jc.2017-01155, 

Low vitamin B12 (B12) during pregnancy is associated with higher maternal obesity, insulin resistance(IR) and gestational diabetes(GDM). B12 is a key co-factor in 1-carbon metabolism. We hypothesize that B12 plays a role in epigenetic regulation by altering circulating miRNAs(miRs) during adipocyte differentiation and results in an adverse metabolic phenotype.

Low B12 levels in pregnancy alters adipose derived circulating miRs, which may mediate an adipogenic and IR phenotype leading to obesity.

UHCW Research: Sudhesh Kumar

Prevalence and treatment of hypovitaminosis D in the haemodialysis population of Coventry

J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol. 2016 Nov;164:214-217. doi: 10.1016/j.jsbmb.2016.02.009. Epub 2016 Feb 11.

Low serum 25(OH)D and associated bone and non-bone related problems are not well appreciated in end stage renal disease (ESRD). Vitamin D treatment strategies in the UK currently focus almost exclusively on calcitriol [1,25(OH)2D], alfacalcidol or paricalcitol. In ESRD hypovitaminosis D is associated with bone loss, muscle weakness, falls, fractures and increased inflammation. National guidelines changed in 2014 and now recommend the diagnosis and treatment of low serum 25(OH)D in all patients with glomerular filtration rate (GFR) less than 30ml/min/1.73m2. However as yet there are no standardized guidelines for dosage, frequency and monitoring in ESRD patients. Following a systematic review of the literature we developed a clinical guideline for cholecalciferol supplementation at University Hospitals of Coventry and Warwickshire, UK. The guideline recommends 40,000IU cholecalciferol weekly for patients with 25(OH)D <50nmol/L and 20,000IU weekly for patients with 25(OH)D 50-75nmol/L; to be continued long term unless levels increase to ≥150nmol/L. To date we have measured 25(OH)D levels in 385 in-center haemodialysis patients. Virtually all patients (95%) had serum 25(OH)D levels <75nmol/L (65% deficient, <30nmol/L; 30% insufficient, 30-74nmol/L). Only 5% of patients had optimal levels (≥75nmol/L). Our data indicates that hypovitaminosis D is prevalent in the haemodialysis population in Coventry and Warwickshire and this is likely to reflect UK haemodialysis patients, highlighting the need for a national supplementation guideline.

UHCW Research: Huish, S. A., Fletcher, S. and Bland R.

B vitamins reduce schizophrenia symptoms, study finds

A review of worldwide studies has found that add-on treatment with high-dose b-vitamins -- including B6, B8 and B12 -- can significantly reduce symptoms of schizophrenia more than standard treatments alone.

The research -- on the effect of vitamin and mineral supplements on symptoms of schizophrenia -- is funded by The Medical Research Council and University of Manchester, and is published in Psychological Medicine, one of the world's leading psychology journals.

Read more about it HERE.

Asthma: vitamin D has a beneficial effect on the risk of exacerbations

New Medicines Evidence Commentary from NICE:

A Cochrane review found that vitamin D supplementation had a beneficial effect on the risk of asthma exacerbations requiring treatment with systemic corticosteroids or those resulting in hospital admission or an emergency department visit. However, caution is needed when interpreting these findings and, in particular, when generalising them to people with recurrent severe asthma exacerbations or children. It is also unclear from the review how any potential beneficial effects relate to either baseline vitamin D levels or the dose of vitamin D given. Public Health England made general recommendations about vitamin D intake to protect bone and muscle health in July 2016. However, further research is required before any recommendations relating specifically to vitamin D intake for asthma can be made.

Prevalence and treatment of hypovitaminosis D in the haemodialysis population of Coventry

J. Steroid Biochem. Mol. Biol. 164 pp. 214-217. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jsbmb.2016.02.009

Low serum 25(OH)D and associated bone and non-bone related problems are not well appreciated in end stage renal disease (ESRD). Vitamin D treatment strategies in the UK currently focus almost exclusively on calcitriol [1,25(OH)2D], alfacalcidol or paricalcitol. In ESRD hypovitaminosis D is associated with bone loss, muscle weakness, falls, fractures and increased inflammation. National guidelines changed in 2014 and now recommend the diagnosis and treatment of low serum 25(OH)D in all patients with glomerular filtration rate (GFR) less than 30ml/min/1.73m2. However as yet there are no standardized guidelines for dosage, frequency and monitoring in ESRD patients. Following a systematic review of the literature we developed a clinical guideline for cholecalciferol supplementation at University Hospitals of Coventry and Warwickshire, UK. 

UHCW Research: Huish, Sharon A; Fletcher, Simon; and Bland, Rosemary

Vitamin D supplements can reduce risk of asthma attacks

People with mild to moderate asthma experience fewer severe asthma attacks if they take vitamin D supplements.

This review found that the average number of asthma attacks was equivalent to about one every four years in those taking vitamin D, compared to nearly one every two years in those taking a placebo. Half as many people attended hospital for asthma treatment each year when taking vitamin D (3%) compared with those not taking vitamin D (6%). These reductions were clinically and statistically significant.

From the NIHR Dissemination Centre

Hypovitaminosis D predicts more rapid and severe cognitive deterioration in ethnically diverse older adults with and without dementia

• Hypovitaminosis D precedes and predicts incident declines in episodic memory and executive function in older adults with and without baseline dementia.
• This finding encourages testing the efficacy of vitamin D supplementation to slow down, prevent or even improve cognitive decline.
• These findings should encourage clinicians to correct hypovitaminosis D in elderly patients.

Evid Based Nurs 2016;19:127 doi:10.1136/eb-2016-102357.  Access with your Athens username and password. 

Association of Vitamin B12 with Pro-Inflammatory Cytokines and Biochemical Markers Related to Cardiometabolic Risk in Saudi Subjects

Nutrients. 2016 Sep 6;8(9). pii: E460.

This study aimed to examine the relationship between changes in systemic vitamin B12 concentrations with pro-inflammatory cytokines, anthropometric factors and biochemical markers of cardiometabolic risk in a Saudi population.

UHCW Research: McTernan PG and Tripathi G

PHE publishes new advice on vitamin D

PHE is advising that 10 micrograms of vitamin D are needed daily to help keep healthy bones, teeth and muscles.