Meta-Analysis Reveals Association Between Vitamin D Deficiency and Alzheimer’s Disease

Researchers affiliated with Duta Wacana Christian Univeristy in Yogyakarta, Java Island,  Indonesia as well as collaborators conducted a meta-analysis investigating any association between vitamin D levels and cognitive dysfunction, such as dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.   While the case literature is mixed the authors systematically searched PubMed and additional references for relevant articles according to PRISMA guidelines spanning the beginning till to December 2022. Five prospective trials and one cross-sectional study were analyzed for the study.  Using a pooled hazard ratio (HR) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs), the authors calculated, determining AD risk. Patients with low vitamin D serum levels (< 25 ng/ml) according to the outcomes of this study, face greater risk  of developing AD compared to patients with normal vitamin D levels (≥ 25 ng/ml) (HR: 1.59, 95% CI: 1.09, 2.33, I²=77%).

A meta-analysis with random effects model was conducted to summarize the estimated risk of AD in patients with low levels of serum vitamin D. The analysis showed that patients with low levels of vitamin D (< 25 ng/ml) had a greater risk of developing AD compared with those who had normal serum vitamin D levels (HR: 1.59, 95% CI: 1.09, 2.33, I² = 77%, Fig. 2). The I² value was 77% indicating heterogeneity between studies.