Parkinson's Disease Support Group

Parkinson's disease is a movement disorder often characterized by muscle rigidity, tremor, a slowing of physical movement, and in extreme cases, a loss of physical movement. The primary symptoms of Parkinsons are due to excessive muscle contraction, normally caused by the insufficient formation and action of dopamine, which is produced in the dopaminergic neurons of the...

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Vitamin D deficiency

PSullivan
PSullivan
I went for a visit to my primary care doctor (she is working closely with my neurologist so she is aware of what meds i'm on with him) she said she wanted to do extra blood tests and in doing that determined that i was not only deficient but extremely deficient in Vitamin D... she put me on 50,000 units once a week for 8 weeks then will check again... she mentioned there may be a tie between lack of Vit D and Parkinsons so when i got home i researched it. Apparently there are studies being done linking the deficiency to one of the causes of pd. I also read the percentage of pd patients that are deficient (though i can't remember off hand it's pretty high)

I wondered if any of you experienced this Vit D deficiency and/or talked to your docs about it..

Happy Valentines day everyone!!!
SandHarbor3
SandHarbor3
I haven't read about such a connect yet but will also look into it.

FYI - My father has restless leg syndrome (RLS) as well as serious iron and Vitamin D deficiencies. He received two infusions for the iron and is now also on a Vit. D regimen similar to yours.

Thanks for the comment; I look forward to exchanging more info. with you and others about it.

Happy Valentine's Day to you, too, and everyone else!
deleted_user
deleted_user
I could have written your post and am also on a high dose of Vit D by my GP (I'm on my second week) - I would say there's a link for sure. Have you noticed a difference? I'm also supposed to be starting A as she said that was extremely low as well. What about you?
PSullivan
PSullivan
Ladybug, as far as i know my vit A is fine... as far as the Vit D goes this is my 2nd week on that huge dose i haven't really felt a difference... but i take it for 12 weeks then get another bloodtest... If i hear anything more on this i'll let you know and hope you could do the same with me... stay positive..
paula
PDdaughter
PDdaughter
Okay, well, as far as I know, I do not have PD (yet)..mom has it. BUT, I am being treated for a vit D deficiency right now and so is my sister. I just thought that the vit D deficiency craze is the new "tonsilitis" thing of the 21st century..ya know? Just something the medical field was told to push....? But, maybe not. I just wonder how many people who live in the northern part of the US have a deficiency since we don't have alot of sun this time of year....doctor says I might want to get a light for it also.
I don't know...but something to ponder ...about the link with PD.
SandHarbor3
SandHarbor3
Surprisingly even we here in the southern states with our 355+ days of sunshine per year have Vitamin D deficiencies because we learn to stay indoors during the heat of the day and, when we go outdoors at such times, we use lots of sunscreen. That's what my father's oncologist told him after getting my father's test results re: his Vit. D deficiency. He added that just about everyone these days has a Vit. D deficiency.

Also, during my mother's quarterly appointment on Monday with her PD neurologist at the National Parkison's Foundation, I asked about the connection between PD and Vitamin D about which you, Paula, had started this good discussion. He stated that a small study has been completed that seems to indicate a connection and recommended that those who don't have PD take 1,000 mg. of Vit. D daily and those with PD should take 2,000 mg. per day. He also stated that a MUCH larger study is currently underway, so more info. will be published when that study is completed. He didn't know when that study will be completed.

Let's keep our eyes and ears open for more info. in the months ahead!

Iris
PSullivan
PSullivan
Sandi if you do hear when this study is posted please let me know... I am on 50,000 units of Vit D a week now.. would be very interested in any studies on this that anyone hears about
thanks... paula
SandHarbor3
SandHarbor3
A new article on the subject..."Vitamin D, E Might Help Maintain Brain Health" (July 14, 2010), see http://www.pdf.org/en/science_news/release/pr_1279116647