Vitamin D status and measures of cognitive function in healthy older European adults

Background/Objectives: Data from human studies that have investigated the association between vitamin D status and cognitive function in elderly adults are conflicting. The objective of this study was to assess vitamin D status (reflected by serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH) D)) in older European subjects (n = 387; aged 55-87 years) and examine its association with measures of cognitive function. Subjects/Methods: Serum 25(OH) D was assessed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, whereas measures of cognitive function were assessed using a comprehensive Cambridge Neuropsychological Testing Automated Battery (CANTAB). Results: In all, 12, 36 and 64% of subjects had serum 25(OH) D concentrations <30, <50 and <80 nmol/l, respectively, throughout the year. Serum 25(OH) D was significantly and inversely correlated with four assessments within the spatial working memory (SWM) test parameter (SWM between errors (r = -0.166; P = 0.003); SWM between errors 8 boxes (r = -0.134; P = 0.038); SWM strategy (r = -0.246; P<0.0001); and SWM total errors (r = -0.174; P<0.003)). When subjects were stratified on the basis of tertiles (T) of serum 25(OH) D (<47.6 (T-1); 47.6-85.8 (T-2); and >85.8 (T-3) nmol/l), fewer errors in SWM test scores occurred in subjects in the third T when compared with the first T (P<0.05-0.084). Stratification by sex showed that these differences between tertiles strengthened (P<0.001-0.043) in the females, but the differences were not significant (P>0.6) in males. Conclusions: Vitamin D insufficiency, but not deficiency, is widespread in the older population of several European countries. Low vitamin D status was associated with a reduced capacity for SWM, particularly in women. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2010) 64, 1172-1178; doi:10.1038/ejcn.2010.117; published online 11 August 2010