Calcium and vitamin D intakes may be positively associated with brain lesions in depressed and nondepressed elders

Abstract

Studies indicate that diet and vascular calcification may be related to the occurrence of brain lesions, although the importance of dietary calcium and vitamin D has not been investigated. The objective of this study was to test the hypothesis that calcium and vitamin D intakes would be positively associated with brain lesion volumes in elderly individuals with and without late-life depression. A cross sectional study was performed as part of a longitudinal clinical study of late-life depression. Calcium and vitamin D intakes were assessed in 232 elderly subjects (95 with current or prior depression, 137 without depression) using a Block 1998 food frequency questionnaire. Calcium, vitamin D, and kilocalorie intake were determined. Brain lesion volumes were calculated from magnetic resonance imaging scan. Subjects were age 60 years or over. Calcium and vitamin D intakes were significantly and positively correlated with brain lesion volume (p < 0.05 and p < 0.001, respectively). In two separate multivariable models, controlling for age, hypertension, diabetes, heart disease, group (depression/comparison), lesion load (high/low), and total kilocalories, these positive associations remained significant (p<0.05 for calcium; p < 0.001 for vitamin D). In conclusion, calcium and vitamin D consumption were associated with brain lesions in elderly subjects, even after controlling for potentially explanatory variables. These associations may be due to vascular calcification or other mechanism. The possibility of adverse effects of high intakes of calcium and vitamin D needs to be further explored in longitudinal studies of elderly subjects.

Relationships between vascular calcification, calcium metabolism, bone density, and fractures

“…(44) The effect of dietary calcium intake on vascular calcification has not been reported for individuals with normal renal function, but epidemiologic studies have suggested that high calcium intakes are associated with a lower prevalence of vascular disease. (45)(46)(47)(48)(49) However, high calcium intakes have been associated with ischemic brain lesions on MRI (50) and with vascular calcification in populations with renal failure. (7,51,52) Our finding of decreased AAC in the highest quartile of dietary calcium intake is consistent with the epidemiologic studies.…”

Vascular events in healthy older women receiving calcium supplementation: randomised controlled trial

“…25 High calcium intakes have also been associated with brain lesions on magnetic resonance imaging scans 26 and with vascular calcification [27][28][29][30] and mortality 31 32 in patients who receive dialysis. Data from patients requiring dialysis may be relevant to the present study population because of the age of our participants and the associated reduced renal function.…”

Vitamin D and ageing

“…Vitamin D 3 in its actions as a neurosteroid has been found to have neuroprotective properties comparable to those of the steroid estrogen in the treatment of some oxidative stress-related neurodegenerative disorders, but without estrogen's undesirable effects (Tetich et al 2003). There have been some fragmentary reports that vitamin D may play a less positive role as a neuroprotector (e.g., Payne et al 2008). But these reports are overwhelmed by the plethora of laboratory and human studies indicating that vitamin D combats neurodegenerative diseases.…”