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Vitamin D and the nervous system
Bivona G, Gambino CM, Iacolino G, Ciaccio M.. Neurological research, 2019-05-30
Topic: Brain proteins, microglia and lab models
the studies reviewed show that VD contributes to cerebral activity in both embryonic and adult brain, helping the connectivity of neural circuits responsible for locomotor, emotional and reward-dependent behavior. Low VD serum levels have been found in patients affected by Alzheimer Disease, Parkinson Disease, Multiple Sclerosis, Autism Spectrum Disorders, Sleep Disorders and Schizophrenia. findings are controversial and should be interpreted with caution, since most of the studies performed have observational study set and few interventional studies are available, producing conflicting results. Overall, it can be stated that the potential role of Vitamin D in neurological diseases is mostly unclear and further randomised controlled trials are needed to understand better whether Vitamin D supplementation treatment can be useful in brain disorders.
Key findings
- the studies reviewed show that VD contributes to cerebral activity in both embryonic and adult brain, helping the connectivity of neural circuits responsible for locomotor, emotional and reward-dependent behavior.
- Low VD serum levels have been found in patients affected by Alzheimer Disease, Parkinson Disease, Multiple Sclerosis, Autism Spectrum Disorders, Sleep Disorders and Schizophrenia. findings are controversial and should be interpreted with caution, since most of the studies performed have observationa
- Overall, it can be stated that the potential role of Vitamin D in neurological diseases is mostly unclear and further randomised controlled trials are needed to understand better whether Vitamin D supplementation treatment can be useful in brain disorders.
Why it matters
This review found low vitamin D levels in people with Alzheimer's and other neurological conditions, but notes the findings are controversial and mostly from observational studies with few and conflicting interventional studies. It concludes the role of vitamin D in neurological disease is mostly unclear and that randomized trials are needed, so it does not support vitamin D supplementation as a treatment.
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Study details
- Evidence strengthHigh
How this study scored 45/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design, sample size, effect reported, studied in people and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Neurological research) |
| Journal's citation record | 1 / 4 | Neurological Research: journal h-index 108 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 0 / 12 | No study design recorded — scores zero, not guessed (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Strength of evidence | 5 / 5 | Rated “high” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 2 / 5 | 2019 — within 10 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 0 / 4 | Participant count not stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 0 / 3 | Not stated whether this was studied in people — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 5 / 7 | Cited 160 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 3 / 5 | 17.8 citations a year over 9 year(s) since 2019 |
| Impact for its field and year | 4 / 6 | Cited 12.4× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 1 / 6 | Cited by 2 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 2 / 4 | Cited 49 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 2 / 4 | Last-listed author Marcello Ciaccio: h-index 46 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 0 / 3 | University of Palermo: institution h-index 473 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 1 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 2 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 31142227) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 45 / 100 | — |
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Read the original
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Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
APA 7th
Bivona, G., Gambino, C. M., Iacolino, G., & Ciaccio, M. (2019). Vitamin D and the nervous system. Neurological research. https://doi.org/10.1080/01616412.2019.1622872
Vancouver
Bivona G, Gambino CM, Iacolino G, Ciaccio M. Vitamin D and the nervous system. Neurological research. 2019. doi:10.1080/01616412.2019.1622872. PMID: 31142227.
BibTeX
@article{bivona2019-31142227,
author = {Bivona, G. and Gambino, C. M. and Iacolino, G. and Ciaccio, M.},
title = {{Vitamin D and the nervous system}},
journal = {Neurological research},
year = {2019},
doi = {10.1080/01616412.2019.1622872},
pmid = {31142227},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1080/01616412.2019.1622872}
}
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