ISRN Neurol. 2012;2012:134289. Epub 2012 Mar 7.
L Ng K, Nguy?n L.
Vietnamese American Medical Research Foundation, Westminster, CA 92683, USA.
Parkinson's disease (PD) is the second most common form of neurodegeneration in the elderly population. Clinically, it is characterized by tremor, rigidity, slowness of movement, and postural imbalance. A significant association between low serum vitamin D and PD has been demonstrated, suggesting that elevated vitamin D levels might provide protection against PD. Genetic studies have helped identify a number of proteins linking vitamin D to PD pathology, including the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II, the vitamin D receptor (VDR), cytochrome P450 2D6 (CYP2D6), chromosome 22, the renin-angiotensin system (RAS), heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase-1 gene (PARP-1), neurotrophic factor (NTF), and Sp1 transcription factor. Vitamin D has also been implicated in PD through its effects on L-type voltage-sensitive calcium channels (L-VSCC), nerve growth factor (NGF), matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), prostaglandins (PGs) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), reactive oxygen species (ROS), and nitric oxide synthase (NOS).
A growing body of evidence suggests that vitamin D supplementation may be beneficial for PD patients.
Among the different forms of vitamin D, calcitriol (1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D(3)) is best indicated for PD, because it is a highly active vitamin D(3) metabolite with an appropriate receptor in the central nervous system (CNS).
PMID: 22619734
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