Article

This review exposes recent advances on the role of vitamin D, cholecalciferol, a
secosteroid, in the central nervous system. In humans, vitamin D arises from
cutaneous transformation of
7-dehydrocholesterol under the effect of UVB exposure
or from food intake.
Vitamin D has an immunomodulatory role through its anti-inflammatory and anti-autoimmune actions. In the nervous system, vitamin D
is involved in the regulation of calcium-mediated neuronal excitotoxicity, in the
reduction of oxidative stress, and in the induction of synaptic structural
proteins, neurotrophic factors and deficient neurotransmitters. Reduced exposure
to sunlight and low food intake can lead to vitamin D deficiency. Increasing
evidence highlights the impact of vitamin D deficiency as a favoring factor in
various central or peripheral neurological diseases, especially multiple
sclerosis and several neurodegenerative diseases, such as amyotrophic lateral
sclerosis, Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's disease. Recently, several
clinical trials on vitamin D supplementation stressed the role of vitamin D as a
protective and/or prognostic factor in the onset and progress of such neurological conditions.
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Langue : ANGLAIS