The debate goes on. As we’ve previously posted, while there is no doubt that vitamin D plays an important role in calcium absorption and thus bone strength, along with boosting immune health, there is an ongoing debate about other health benefits. But new research continues to come out touting the potential importance of having sufficient vitamin D in your body. A recent study from Tufts University, published in Alzheimer’s & Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer’s Association, documents for the first time the presence of vitamin D in the brain and highlights the correlation that seems to exist between high levels of vitamin D in the brain and better cognitive functioning.

Researchers examined the brains of 209 deceased participants from the Rush Memory and Aging Project. The cognitive abilities of all participants prior to death were known and, by looking at four different parts of each brain, researchers were able to determine that those with more vitamin D in their brains held onto better cognitive abilities as they aged. However, the findings did not indicate a direct connection to Alzheimer’s markers in the brain and it remains unclear exactly what the connection between vitamin D and brain functioning might be. While this is not a reason to overdose on vitamin D, it may be a reason to have your physician check your vitamin D level with a simple blood test, especially as 1 in 4 people have a vitamin D deficiency. To find out more about this study, fill your plate with salmon and click here and here.

Two other recent studies of the health benefits of vitamin D have also been published. First, a study published in Nature Scientific Reports relates an association between vitamin D supplementation and reduced Covid infection and death, especially in those with low vitamin D levels. Find out more about this research here. Additionally, in a new study from Australia published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, scientists report “compelling” evidence and a causal connection between low vitamin D levels and premature death. A good description of the study is published here. This research underscores the value of ensuring your vitamin D levels are sufficient, especially if you are an older adult or someone who may not get sufficient Vitamin D through your diet or sun exposure.

This time of year, in particular, we may all lack sufficient exposure to the sun, which is a central source of vitamin D. Especially in colder climates (for example in more northern US states), the winter sun is just not strong enough to give you the sufficient UVB rays necessary for your skin to convert them to vitamin D. Therefore, making sure your diet contains sufficient vitamin D becomes essential, and in all likelihood, it may be valuable to add a vitamin D supplement to your diet during the winter months. Of course, this is something to discuss with your physician- who may first check your vitamin D levels with a blood test- but the benefits of maintaining sufficient levels of vitamin D in your body are becoming more and more clear. For a good overview of why vitamin D is so important and what you can do to ensure adequate levels, take a listen to this recent BBC podcast (and enjoy their pronunciation of the word “vitamin”!)