Low vitamin D levels have been associated in past studies with neurovascular injury – damage to the major blood vessels supplying the brain, brainstem and upper spinal cord. A university of Massachusetts study involving 96 stroke patients assessed blood status of vitamin D. Stroke patients who had low vitamin D levels (less than 30 ng/mL) showed two-times larger areas of dead tissue resulting from obstruction of the blood supply compared with patients who had normal vitamin D levels. Further, for each 10ng/mL reduction in vitamin D level, the chance for healthy recovery from stroke in three months decreased by almost half, regardless of the patient’s age or initial stroke severity.
This is a very significant difference in outcome correlated specifically to one nutrient that is easy to test and easy to supplement. Vitamin D is essential for many functions in the body. It helps protect vascular function, bone density, and other essential body processes. If you are uncertain about your vitamin D status, come in and get tested.
Allan Sosin, MD
Pharmaceutical grade vitamin D supplements: