This week Dr. Katherine Tucker of the published a report in Gerontology which makes the claim that elderly individuals may be able to help sustain their cognitive function by maintaining sufficient levels of vitamin D.
The study () involved more than a thousand participants between the ages of 65 and 99 receiving health care services in the home.
Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin that is not naturally abundant in food. However, many of us produce this vitamin endogenously when we are outdoors and sunlight strikes our skin. That is why it was significance to study this particular section of the elderly (individuals receiving care in the home). People who receive health care in the home usually do so because of a lack of mobility and therefore seldom get exposed to natural light. In fact, Tucker found that only 35 percent of the participants in her study had sufficient vitamin D blood levels.
The interesting finding in Tucker’s study is the group that had sufficient vitamin D levels performed better on cognitive aptitude tests than those with deficient and insufficient vitamin D levels.
Although these finding are intriguing, please do not rush out and buy vitamin D supplements. Researchers are still unclear what dose, if any, is most effective. Some water-soluble vitamins are simply eliminated by the body once you have reached a certain level of internal saturation (for instance, most people take more vitamin C than they need, which is then simply eliminated by the body). Vitamin D on the other hand is stored in fat, and an overdose can cause significant problems.
If you are able, your best bet is to get outside and enjoy a little sunshine using proper UV protection. The Fourth of July holiday is a perfect excuse this weekend to get outdoors and naturally produce some vitamin D in your own body.