The Association Between Low Levels of Serum Vitamin D and the Duration and Severity of Parkinson's Disease

Parkinson’s disease is a neurodegenerative disorder more commonly seen in people aged over 50 years old. The etiology of the disease is unknown, yet the impact of factors, such as vitamin D as a hormone on Parkinson's disease has been demonstrated in previous studies.
The aim of the current study was to investigate the role of low levels of this factor on the severity and duration of the disease.
In 2015 to 2016, the current researchers conducted this case-control study on 50 patients with Parkinson's disease and 50 healthy subjects as the control group in Babol, Iran. Demographic information (age, gender, and education), serum levels of vitamin D in the two groups, disease duration, disease severity, and cardinal features of the disease in the patient group were investigated. Data were analyzed using the SPSS 23 software with the t-test, Kruskal Wallis, Mann-Whitney, and adjusted logistic regression.
The mean serum vitamin D levels was 27.28 ± 27.75 (ng/mL) and 32.00 ± 17.76 (ng/mL) in patient and control groups, respectively (P = 0.009). In terms of the duration of the disease, 34 (68%) patients had the disease for less than five years, nine (18%) for five to ten years and seven (14%) for more than ten years. The duration was significantly higher in females (P = 0.001). Logistic regression analysis with adjusted demographic variables showed that the observed lower levels of serum vitamin D in cases compared with the control group was statistically significant (OR = 4.17; 95% CI: 1.37, 12.71; P = 0.012).
There was a significant relationship between low serum vitamin D levels and the duration and severity of Parkinson's disease in patients under 60 years of age.