Senior Blacks with low vitamin D were 2X more likely to experience cognitive decline 5 years later

Low 25-Hydroxyvitamin D Concentrations and Risk of Incident Cognitive Impairment in Black and White Older Adults: The Health ABC Study.

J Nutr Gerontol Geriatr. 2018 Mar 5:1-13. doi: 10.1080/21551197.2017.1419899. [Epub ahead of print]

Kilpatrick L1, Houston DK2, Wilson VK3, Lovato J4, Ayonayon HN5, Cauley JA6, Harris T7, Simonsick EM5, Yaffe K5, Kritchevsky SB2, Sink KM8.

Using data from the Health, Aging, and Body Composition study, we examined whether low 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25[OH]D) concentrations were associated with prevalent or incident cognitive impairment. Serum 25(OH)D concentrations were measured in 2,786 older adults and categorized as <20 ng/mL, 20 to <30 ng/mL, or ≥30 ng/mL.

Cognitive impairment was defined as a score >1.5 standard deviations below race and education specific means on either digit symbol substitution test or modified mini-mental state test. Logistic regression determined the odds of cognitive impairment at baseline and year 5 by 25(OH)D category.

25(OH)D concentrations were <30 ng/mL in 57.3% of whites and 84.6% of blacks. After excluding participants with baseline cognitive impairment (n = 340),

• 13% of whites and 13% of blacks developed cognitive impairment by year 5.

In whites, 25(OH)D concentrations <30 ng/mL were not associated with prevalent or incident cognitive impairment. Black participants with 25(OH)D concentrations <20 ng/mL had a higher odds of prevalent, but not incident cognitive impairment (OR (95% CI): 2.05 (1.08-3.91), p = 0.03) compared to participants with 25(OH)D concentrations ≥30 ng/mL. Low 25(OH)D concentrations were associated with twofold higher odds of prevalent cognitive impairment in blacks.

PMID: 29505349 DOI: 10.1080/21551197.2017.1419899