Vit D

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The vitamin D dilemma strikes again!

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - In one of the first studies to examine

the relationship between diet and brain lesions, researchers observed

that elderly people who reported higher calcium and vitamin D intake

were much more likely to have greater volumes of brain lesions --

regions of damage that can increase risk of cognitive impairment.

" Our finding of a relationship between brain lesions and consumption

of both calcium and vitamin D raises the question about a possible

down side to high intakes of these nutrients, " Dr. Martha E. Payne of

Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, told Reuters Health.

Higher intakes of calcium and vitamin D have been promoted in recent

years as a way to prevent bone loss with aging. " We are concerned

that some of this extra calcium may end up in the blood vessel walls

rather than the bone. This may be a particular problem for

individuals with renal disease since calcium excretion may be

impaired, " Payne said.

The research team assessed calcium and vitamin D intakes and magnetic

resonance imaging (MRI) brain scans in 232 elderly men and women.

All of the subjects displayed some brain lesions of varying sizes but

those reporting the highest intakes of calcium and vitamin D were

significantly more likely to have higher total volume of brain

lesions as measured across several MRI scans.

These positive associations remained significant in two

separate " multivariable models " controlling for age, high blood

pressure, diabetes, heart disease, and depression. In one model

containing both calcium and vitamin D, only vitamin D remained

significantly positively associated with brain lesion volume.

" We cannot conclude that calcium or vitamin D caused the brain

lesions that we found, " Payne said. " However, we hypothesize that our

findings may be due to vascular calcification, whereby calcium is

taken up into the blood vessel walls. "

" A longitudinal study, " Payne concludes, " is urgently needed in order

to determine if calcium and vitamin D lead to vascular calcification

and brain lesions in the long term. "

She reported the study findings at a meeting of the American Society

for Nutrition, part of Experimental Biology 2007 in Washington, DC

ALSO SEE THIS SITE:

www.sciencedaily.com/rele...223302.htm

I'M EXHAUSTED WITH CONFUSION.

Beverly