Association between Vitamin D and Cognitive Deficiency in Alcohol Dependence

Abstract

There are still not enough findings to elucidate how exactly alcohol use impairs cognitive abilities. Some studies have shown that there is a link between alcohol intake and vitamin D levels, but these findings are inconsistent so further research is needed. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between serum vitamin D levels and cognitive impairment in alcohol-dependent individuals. A case-control study was carried out including a total of N = 132 respondents with a medical history of alcoholism, and healthy volunteers. The Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCa) and Addenbrooke’s Cognitive Examination-Revised (ACE-R) screening tools were used for cognitive status assessment and serum vitamin D levels analysis (blood samples of respondents). Significant difference (p = 0.022), was found in vitamin D levels in the alcohol-dependent group with cognitive deficiency 13.7 ± 9.4 (ng/mL), alcohol-dependent group without cognitive deficiency 19.5 ± 11.2 (ng/mL) and healthy controls 19.9 ± 11.1 (ng/mL), respectively. Furthermore, vitamin D levels were significantly different across all groups based on MoCa (p = 0.016) and ACE-R (p = 0.004) scores. All three groups exhibited vitamin D deficiency. A significant correlation was found between vitamin D deficiency and cognitive impairment, but it yielded no significant difference in alcohol-dependent individuals.

Vitamin D Deficiency Is Associated with Advanced Liver Fibrosis and Impaired Fasting Glucose in Alcohol Use Disorder

“…In this study, the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency was greater than the prevalence found in other series of treatment-seeking patients with AUD, as studies from Asia and Northern and Central Europe reported a prevalence ranging from 60% and 75% [ 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 ]. A recent Spanish study among patients with severe AUD admitted to an internal medicine ward in the Canary Islands reported a prevalence of vitamin D deficiency of 28% [ 23 ].…”