Evidence supporting the use of: Vitamin D3
For the health condition: Dementia

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Synopsis

Source of validity: Scientific
Rating (out of 5): 2

Vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) is increasingly studied for its potential role in cognitive health and dementia prevention or management. Several observational studies have found associations between low serum vitamin D levels and an increased risk of cognitive decline and dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease. The biological plausibility stems from vitamin D’s roles in neuroprotection, reduction of neuroinflammation, promotion of nerve growth, and regulation of calcium homeostasis in the brain. Some laboratory and animal studies suggest vitamin D could modulate amyloid-beta accumulation and tau phosphorylation, processes implicated in Alzheimer’s pathogenesis.

However, the clinical evidence for vitamin D3 supplementation in treating or preventing dementia is limited and inconsistent. Randomized controlled trials have generally failed to show clear cognitive benefits from vitamin D supplementation in older adults, though a few small studies report modest improvements in certain cognitive domains, especially in individuals who were vitamin D deficient at baseline. Systematic reviews and meta-analyses generally conclude that while low vitamin D status is associated with higher dementia risk, supplementation has not been definitively proven to prevent or treat dementia.

In summary, although there is a scientific rationale and some supporting epidemiological and preclinical data, the evidence from interventional studies is weak. Thus, vitamin D3 is sometimes used in clinical practice to address deficiency in dementia patients, but its use specifically for cognitive improvement or dementia treatment is not well supported by current clinical research.

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