Higher Vitamin D Dietary inTake and it is Associated with Lower Risk of Alzheimer’s Disease

Abstract

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) can be devastating. Research to date suggests higher blood levels of vitamin D may help prevent AD and recent animal studies indicate high-dose vitamin D supplementation may help treat the disease by reducing the abnormal proteins in the brain that are associated with the disease. As vitamin D is remarkably safe, we believe middle-aged and older adults should keep their vitamin D blood levels in the higher range of normal (70 – 80 ng/ml; (175 – 200 nmol/l). This usually requires 10,000 IU/day (250 mcg) or more, but such doses should be monitored by having a vitamin D blood level determined once or twice a year. If your loved one has AD, and you want to try high-dose vitamin D treatment, such as 20,000 IU/day (500 mcg), it is imperative that frequent vitamin D blood levels be obtained to ensure vitamin D toxicity does not occur