Relationship between 25‐Hydroxyvitamin D, bone density, and Parkinson’s disease symptoms

08 August 2019     Acta Neurologica Scandinavica — Zhang HJ, Zhang JR, Mao CJ, et al.

Volume140, Issue4

October 2019

Pages 274-280

Among 182 patients with Parkinson disease (PD) and 185 healthy controls, researchers ascertained if serum vitamin D levels were related with bone mineral density (BMD) and non-motor symptoms. Using partial correlation analysis, links between serum vitamin D levels and clinical data were assessed. Significantly lower serum 25(OH)D levels were seen in patients with PD vs healthy controls.

Lower vitamin D levels in patients with PD were related to a significantly higher frequency of falls and insomnia and significantly higher scores for the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, depression, and anxiety. Vitamin D levels were significantly associated with falls, insomnia, and scores for the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, depression, and anxiety after adjusting for age, sex, and BMI. However, there were no connections in PD patients between BMD and serum 25(OH)D levels. Therefore, supplementation with vitamin D is a potential therapy for symptoms of non-motor PD.

Abstract

Objectives

Vitamin D deficiency is widespread in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). Our aim was to determine whether serum vitamin D levels correlated with bone mineral density (BMD) and non‐motor symptoms in patients with PD.

Materials & Methods

A consecutive series of 182 patients with PD and 185 healthy controls were included. Serum 25‐hydroxyvitamin D (25[OH]D) levels were measured by immunoassay, while BMD of the lumbar spine and femoral neck was measured by dual‐energy X‐ray absorptiometry. Associations between serum vitamin D levels and clinical data were evaluated using partial correlation analysis.

Results

Patients with PD had significantly lower serum 25(OH)D levels relative to healthy controls (49.75 ± 14.11 vs 43.40 ± 16.51, P < 0.001). Furthermore, PD patients with lower vitamin D levels had a significantly higher frequency of falls (P = 0.033) and insomnia (P = 0.015). They also had significantly higher scores for the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI; P = 0.014), depression (P = 0.020), and anxiety (P = 0.009). Finally, patients with PD also had a significantly lower mean BMD of the lumbar spine (P = 0.011) and femoral neck (P < 0.001). After adjusting for age, sex, and body mass index, vitamin D levels significantly correlated with falls, insomnia, and scores for the PSQI, depression, and anxiety.

Conclusions

In patients with PD, vitamin D levels significantly correlated with falls and some non‐motor symptoms. However, no associations were found between BMD and the serum 25(OH)D levels in patients with PD. Thus, vitamin D supplementation is a potential therapeutic for non‐motor PD symptoms.

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/ane.13141?referrer_access_token=7N8m6GLDu-SqEMY6UNECyIta6bR2k8jH0KrdpFOxC64q5AhPLNRYWYV0I5KHWRUsjsejHBCvHTvVaEVB14yH48OEWGot8Igfz8AgvdiHyglXLnULOUg-FV-AYoEpTUe3iBifBVZLbJVTgo--4cB5fg%3D%3D
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/ane.13141