Stroke – many MRI measures are strongly associated with low vitamin D – Jan 2015

25-hydroxyvitamin D status is associated with chronic cerebral small vessel disease.

Stroke. 2015 Jan;46(1):248-51. doi: 10.1161/STROKEAHA.114.007706. Epub 2014 Nov 25.
Chung PW 1, Park KY 2 kwangyeol.park at gmail.com, Kim JM 1, Shin DW1, Park MS1, Chung YJ1, Ha SY1, Ahn SW1, Shin HW1, Kim YB1, Moon HS1.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE:
The aim of this study was to determine the association between 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) and neuroimaging correlates of cerebral small vessel disease.

METHODS:
We identified 759 consecutive patients with acute ischemic stroke or transient ischemic attack.

• Lacunes,
• white matter hyperintensity, and
• cerebral microbleed (CMB)

were assessed using MR images.
Deep CMB was defined as the presence of CMB in basal ganglia, thalamus, or brain stem. The association between 25(OH)D and small vessel disease was tested using linear and logistic regression analyses.

RESULTS:
Mean age was 68 (±13) years. Mean level of 25(OH)D was 34.1±17.8 nmol/L.
On bivariate analysis, a 25-nmol/L decrease in 25(OH)D was associated with
• lacunes (regression coefficient, 0.23; 95% confidence interval CI, 0.02-0.45),
• *severe white matter hyperintensity (odds ratio, 2.05; 95% CI, 1.41-3.08), and
• *deep CMB (odds ratio, 1.28; 95% CI, 1.01-1.63).
Also, 25(OH)D deficiency (≤25 nmol/L) was associated with

• lacunes (regression coefficient, 0.5; 95% CI, 0.04-0.95),
• severe white matter hyperintensity (odds ratio, 2.74; 95% CI, 1.31-6.45), and
• deep CMB (odds ratio, 1.68; 95% CI, 1.03-2.78).

The association remained significant even after multivariable adjustment and in the subgroup of previously healthy patients.

CONCLUSIONS:
25(OH)D is inversely associated with lacunes, white matter hyperintensity, and deep CMB. Our findings suggest that 25(OH)D is linked to small vessel disease, and in future trials it should be tested whether 25(OH)D supplementation can prevent small vessel disease.
 Download the PDF from VitaminDWiki

---

See also VitaminDWiki

131 items in Stroke category - see also Overview Stroke and vitamin D,  Overview Cardiovascular and vitamin D,  Overview Hypertension and Vitamin D

The TOP articles in Stroke and Vitamin D are listed here:

Items in BOTH Hypertension AND Stroke are:

- - - - - - - - - - - - -

• White Matter Hyperintensities (brain) 1.8X more likely if 10 ng less vitamin D - meta-analysis Jan 2022
• Fewer white spots in MRI brain scans if had more vitamin D – Jan 2014
• Following a stroke, 10 ng less vitamin D associated with 2X more white matter hyperintensities – Nov 2014
• Following strokes, brain scans (MRI) 3X worse in those having low vitamin D – July 2018