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33 percent more white matter abnormality in brain (periventricular WMA) if low vitamin D – July 2014

Vitamin D and white matter abnormalities in older adults: a cross-sectional neuroimaging study

European Journal of Neurology, DOI: 10.1111/ene.12511, Article first published online: 10 JUL 2014
C. Annweiler 1,2,3,*, T. Annweiler4, R. Bartha3, F. R. Herrmann5, R. Camicioli6 andO. Beauchet1,2,7
1Department of Neuroscience, Division of Geriatric Medicine, University Memory Clinic, Angers University Hospital, Angers, France
2UPRES EA4638, University of Angers, UNAM, Angers, France
3Department of Medical Biophysics, Robarts Research Institute, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada
4Department of Radiology, University Hospital of Saint-Etienne, Saint-Etienne, France
5Department of Rehabilitation and Geriatrics, Geneva University Hospitals and University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
6Division of Neurology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
7Biomathics, Paris, France
*Correspondence: C. Annweiler, Department of Geriatric Medicine, Angers University Hospital, F-49933 Angers, France (tel.:+33 2 41 35 54 86; fax:+33 2 41 35 48 94; e-mail: CeAnnweiler at chu-angers.fr).

Morphological brain changes related to hypovitaminosis D have been poorly studied. In particular, the age-related decrease in vitamin D concentrations may explain the onset of white matter abnormalities (WMA) in older adults. Our objectives were (i) to investigate whether there was an association between serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD) concentration and the grade of WMA in older adults and (ii) to determine whether the location of WMA was associated with 25OHD concentration.

Methods
One hundred and thirty-three Caucasian older community-dwellers with no clinical hydrocephalus (mean 71.6 ± 5.6 years; 43.6% female) received a blood test and a magnetic resonance imaging scan of the brain. The grades of total, periventricular and deep WMA were scored using semiquantitative visual rating scales from T2-weighted fluid-attenuated inversion recovery images. The association of WMA with as-measured and deseasonalized 25OHD concentrations was evaluated with the following covariates: age, gender, body mass index, use of anti-vascular drugs, number of comorbidities, impaired mobility, education level, Mini-Mental State Examination score, medial temporal lobe atrophy, serum concentrations of calcium, thyroid-stimulating hormone and vitamin B12, and estimated glomerular filtration rate.

Results
Both as-measured and deseasonalized serum 25OHD concentrations were found to be inversely associated with the grade of

  • total WMA (adjusted β = −0.32, P = 0.027),
  • specifically with periventricular WMA (adjusted β = −0.15, P = 0.009)
  • but not with deep WMA (adjusted β = −0.12, P = 0.090).

Similarly, participants with 25OHD concentration <75 nM had on average a 33% higher grade of periventricular WMA than those with 25OHD ≥75 nM (P = 0.024).
No difference in average grade was found for deep WMA (P = 0.949).

Conclusions
Lower serum 25OHD concentration was associated with higher grade of WMA, particularly periventricular WMA. These findings provide a scientific basis for vitamin D replacement trials.



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