Patients with early Parkinson disease have Vitamin D insufficiency

According to an article in the Archives of Neurology, patients recently diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease are typically vitaminEssential substances that cannot be produced by the body and so must be acquired from the diet. D insufficient; however the concentrations do not appear to decline during the progression of the disease.

 Vitamin D is considered a hormoneA substance produced by a gland in one part of the body and carried by the blood to the organs or tissues where it has an effect. that regulates a number of physiological processes. A deficiency in vitamin D has been associated with a variety of clinical disorders and chronicA disease of long duration generally involving slow changes. diseases including impaired balance, decreased muscleTissue made up of cells that can contract to bring about movement. strength, mood and cognitive dysfunction, autoimmuneAny condition caused by the body’s immune response against its own tissues. disorders like multiple sclerosisA progressive disease of the central nervous system. and diabetesA disorder caused by insufficient or absent production of the hormone insulin by the pancreas, or because the tissues are resistant to the effects. and certain forms of cancerAbnormal, uncontrolled cell division resulting in a malignant tumour that may invade surrounding tissues or spread to distant parts of the body.. 

Research conducted by Emory University School of Medicine and the Atlanta Veterans Affairs Medical Centre examined the vitamin D insufficiency in untreated patients with early Parkinson disease.  Results from the 157participant study found that 69.4% had a vitamin D insufficiency and 26.1% had vitamin D deficiency. During treatment these percentages fell to 51.6% and 7% respectively.  

The study shows that vitamin D concentrations did not decrease, but instead increased slightly over the course of follow-up. This evidence shows that during the early stages of Parkinson disease, vitamin D concentrations do not decrease with disease progression.