In a recent study from Rutgers University, scientists found vitamin D could improve memory performance in older people.
However, taking too many vitamin D supplements could slow down people’s reaction times.
Slower reaction times may increase people’s fall and fracture risk.
Vitamin D is essential for bone health.
It can be obtained through sun exposure and supplements. Previous studies found that vitamin D greatly impacts how the body functions.
Some studies showed that vitamin D plays a role in cognition and the normal function of the brain.
In the current study, the team examined the impact of vitamin D on cognitive function using computers. They looked three groups of overweight and obese women between 50 and 70 years old.
The first group took the recommended daily dose of 600 international units (IU) of vitamin D each day for a year. The second group took 2,000 IU per day. The third group took 4,000 IU per day.
All of the women were encouraged to lose weight during the study.
The researchers found in women who took 2,000 IU of vitamin D per day, their memory and learning performance was influenced.
However, these women’s reaction time showed a trend to be slower at 2,000 IU daily and much slower at the 4000 IU dosage.
Previous research has shown that vitamin D supplementation at about 2,000 IU daily or more was linked to a higher risk of falls.
In addition, the team suggests that 4,000 IU of vitamin D a day may be dangerous to older people because it can disrupt walking or one’s balance.
The team says further work is needed to see whether reaction time is related to rates of falls and injuries in people with a high risk.
In addition, more research is needed to examine how different doses of vitamin D supplementation may influence women and men separately.
If you care about brain health, please read studies about how the Mediterranean diet could protect your brain health, and Vitamin B supplements could help reduce dementia risk.
For more information about brain health, please see recent studies that a high-fiber diet could help lower the dementia risk, and these antioxidants could help reduce dementia risk.
The research was published in The Journals of Gerontology: Series A and conducted by Sue Shapses et al.
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