A new small study has identified a link between vitamin D levels, stroke severity and recovery. At the “International Stroke Conference 2015” of the American Stroke Association in Nashville, Tennessee, it was presented that people with lower vitamin D levels have more severe strokes and a poorer road to recovery.
The study, conducted by the University of Massachusetts, included 96 patients who recovered after their stroke between January 2013 and January 2014. Twice as large areas of dead tissue were found in patients with a low vitamin D status (below 30 nanograms per millilitre of blood) than those with a normal status.
The recovery process was also affected by their vitamin D status. The likelihood of a successful recovery within the next three months following the stroke was halved for each 10ng/ml reduction in 25-hydroxyvitamin D, regardless of the subject’s age or stroke severity.
However, “It’s too early to draw firm conclusions from our small study,” states assistant professor of neurology and psychiatry, Dr Nils Henninger, from the University of Massachusetts Medical School. Until published in a peer-reviewed journal, the findings put forward will generally be considered preliminary.
It is recommended that you seek advice from your physician regarding any concerns you have over your vitamin D level, especially if you are at higher risk of stroke.
If you or someone you know is interested in learning more about healthy lifestyle changes, stroke rehabilitation, please do not hesitate to contact our therapists on 1300MYREHAB (1300 469 794) or at info@myrehabteam.com.au.
Univadis (2015) [Online] Available on: http://www.univadis.co.uk/medical-news/53/Vitamin-D-status-may-impact-stroke-severity?utm_source=newsletter+email&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=medical+updates+-+daily&utm_content=94530&utm_term=automated_daily (Accessed 11th February, 2015)
Medicinenet (2015) [Online] Available on: http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=186897 (Accessed 17th February, 2015)
Image courtesy of Getideaka at FreeDigitalPhotos.net available on: http://www.freedigitalphotos.net (Accessed 17th February, 2015)
