Vitamin D Tied to Falls, Nonmotor Symptoms in Parkinson Disease

In patients with Parkinson disease (PD), vitamin D levels are significantly correlated with falls and some nonmotor symptoms, according to a study published online in Acta Neurologica Scandinavia.

Hui-Jun Zhang, M.D., from The Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University in Suzhou, China, and colleagues assessed the correlation between serum vitamin D levels with bone mineral density (BMD) and nonmotor symptoms in 182 patients with PD and 185 healthy controls. Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry was used to measure BMD of the lumbar spine and femoral neck.

The researchers found that patients with PD had significantly lower serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels versus healthy controls. PD patients with lower vitamin D levels had a significantly higher frequency of falls and insomnia, as well as significantly higher scores for the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), depression, and anxiety. Significantly lower mean BMD of the lumbar spine and femoral neck were seen among patients with PD. Vitamin D levels significantly correlated with falls, insomnia, and scores for the PSQI, depression, and anxiety after adjusting for age, sex, and body mass index.

"As various nonmotor symptoms place a burden on individuals with Parkinson's disease and their caregivers, vitamin D might be a potential add-on therapy for improving these neglected symptoms," a coauthor said in a statement.

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