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J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 2009;80:722-729 doi:10.1136/jnnp.2008.165720
  • Research paper

Association between 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels and cognitive performance in middle-aged and older European men

  1. David M Lee1,
  2. Abdelouahid Tajar1,
  3. Aslan Ulubaev2,
  4. Neil Pendleton3,
  5. Terence W O’Neill1,
  6. Daryl B O’Connor4,
  7. Gyorgy Bartfai5,
  8. Steven Boonen6,
  9. Roger Bouillon7,
  10. Felipe F Casanueva8,9,
  11. Joseph D Finn1,
  12. Gianni Forti10,
  13. Aleksander Giwercman11,
  14. Thang S Han12,
  15. Ilpo T Huhtaniemi13,
  16. Krzysztof Kula14,
  17. Michael E J Lean15,
  18. Margus Punab16,
  19. Alan J Silman1,
  20. Dirk Vanderschueren17,
  21. Frederick C W Wu2,
  22. the EMAS study group
  1. 1
    ARC Epidemiology Unit, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
  2. 2
    Department of Endocrinology, Manchester Royal Infirmary, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
  3. 3
    Clinical Gerontology, The University of Manchester, Hope Hospital, Salford, UK
  4. 4
    Institute of Psychological Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
  5. 5
    Department of Obstetrics, Gynaecology and Andrology, Albert Szent-Gyorgy Medical University, Szeged, Hungary
  6. 6
    Division of Gerontology and Geriatrics and the Centre for Musculoskeletal Research, Department of Experimental Medicine, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
  7. 7
    Department of Experimental Medicine, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
  8. 8
    Department of Medicine, Santiago de Compostela University, Complejo Hospitalario Universitario de Santiago (CHUS), Santiago de Compostela, Spain
  9. 9
    CIBER de Fisiopatología Obesidad y Nutricion (CB06/03), Instituto Salud Carlos III, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
  10. 10
    Andrology Unit, Department of Clinical Physiopathology, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
  11. 11
    Reproductive Medicine Centre, Malmö University Hospital, University of Lund, Sweden
  12. 12
    Department of Endocrinology, Royal Free and University College Hospital Medical School, Royal Free Hospital, Hampstead, London, UK
  13. 13
    Department of Reproductive Biology, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Campus, London, UK
  14. 14
    Department of Andrology and Reproductive Endocrinology, Medical University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland
  15. 15
    Department of Human Nutrition, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
  16. 16
    Andrology Unit, United Laboratories of Tartu University Clinics, Tartu, Estonia
  17. 17
    Department of Andrology and Endocrinology, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
  1. Dr D M Lee, ARC Epidemiology Unit, The University of Manchester, Manchester, M13 9PT, UK; david.m.lee{at}manchester.ac.uk
  • Received 20 October 2008
  • Revised 26 January 2009
  • Accepted 26 January 2009
  • Published Online First 21 May 2009

Abstract

Background: Although there is evidence that vitamin D inadequacy may be linked to adverse cognitive outcomes, results from studies on this topic have been inconsistent. The aim of this trial was to examine the association between 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) levels and cognitive performance in middle-aged and older European men.

Methods: This population-based cross-sectional study included 3,369 men aged 40–79 years from eight centres enrolled in the European Male Ageing Study. Cognitive function was assessed using the Rey–Osterrieth Complex Figure (ROCF) test, the Camden Topographical Recognition Memory (CTRM) test and the Digit Symbol Substitution Test (DSST). Serum 25(OH)D levels were measured by radioimmunoassay. Additional assessments included measurement of physical activity, functional performance and mood/depression. Associations between cognitive function and 25(OH)D levels were explored using locally weighted and linear regression models.

Results: In total, 3,133 men (mean (±SD) age 60±11 years) were included in the analysis. The mean (±SD) 25(OH)D concentration was 63±31 nmol/l. In age-adjusted linear regressions, high levels of 25(OH)D were associated with high scores on the copy component of the ROCF test (β per 10 nmol/l = 0.096; 95% CI 0.049 to 0.144), the CTRM test (β per 10 nmol/l = 0.075; 95% CI 0.026 to 0.124) and the DSST (β per 10 nmol/l = 0.318; 95% CI 0.235 to 0.401). After adjusting for additional confounders, 25(OH)D levels were associated with only score on the DSST (β per 10 nmol/l = 0.152; 95% CI 0.051 to 0.253). Locally weighted and spline regressions suggested the relationship between 25(OH)D concentration and cognitive function was most pronounced at 25(OH)D concentrations below 35 nmol/l.

Conclusion: In this study, lower 25(OH)D levels were associated with poorer performance on the DSST. Further research is warranted to determine whether vitamin D sufficiency might have a role in preserving cognitive function in older adults.

Footnotes

  • Competing interests: None.

Responses to this article

  • Re: Does vitamin D status effect interact with smoking habits re cognition?
    • David M Lee
    J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry published online July 1, 2009
  • Does vitamin D status effect interact with smoking habits re cognition?
    • Barbara J Boucher
    J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry published online June 16, 2009

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