“My blood work shows that I’m very low on vitamin D,” said one MyParkinsonsTeam member. “Does this have anything to do with Parkinson’s disease?”

If you’re curious about the role of vitamin D in your Parkinson’s disease symptoms and progression, this article is for you. Here, we’ll discuss the evidence for and against vitamin D supplementation for people with Parkinson’s disease.

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People With Parkinson’s May Have Low Vitamin D Levels

While vitamin D isn’t confirmed as a treatment for Parkinson’s disease, it’s quite common for people with Parkinson’s to have low vitamin D levels. Studies have shown that low levels are linked with a higher risk and more severe symptoms.

Currently, taking vitamin D might help with some secondary issues or help certain groups of people, but so far, it hasn’t consistently improved the main motor symptoms based on rigorous trials.

One reason for low vitamin D may be because people with Parkinson’s engage in fewer outdoor activities. That means they may get less sun exposure, at least in later stages of Parkinson’s.

A vitamin D deficiency may be linked to higher levels of nitric oxide. This can damage your neurons (nerve cells).

Experts aren’t quite sure what drives neurodegeneration in Parkinson’s. But some believe that high levels of nitric oxide may play a role, at least in driving Parkinson’s progression. More research is needed to conclusively say whether vitamin deficiencies, including vitamin D deficiency, increase your risk of Parkinson’s.

If you’re concerned about your vitamin D status, talk to your doctor. They can order a blood test to assess your levels.

How Vitamin D Supplementation Might Help Parkinson’s Symptoms

Experts are exploring whether taking vitamin D supplements may help improve Parkinson’s symptoms. Researchers have reviewed the results of multiple studies at once to see how vitamin D and Parkinson’s disease interact.

Vitamin D Supplementation and Nonmotor Symptoms

Some research indicates that vitamin D levels could affect some nonmotor Parkinson’s symptoms. This may include verbal fluency, verbal memory, mood, and smell impairment.

In one study, people with Parkinson’s without dementia who had higher levels of vitamin D in their blood plasma scored higher on verbal fluency and verbal memory tests. But there was no significant difference in other cognitive test scores between people with low and high vitamin D levels.

Smell impairment is a nonmotor symptom affecting up to 90 percent of people with Parkinson’s. The results of a small study found that people with higher levels of vitamin D3 were less likely to have problems with their sense of smell. But more research is needed to confirm this and to find out how vitamin D supplementation may affect the sense of smell.

Vitamin D Supplementation and Motor Symptoms

One of the most common research findings is that higher serum levels of vitamin D may be linked with fewer motor symptoms in those with Parkinson’s. Motor symptoms in Parkinson’s disease include rigidity, tremors, and slowed movement.

One research analysis explored the effect of vitamin D supplementation on motor symptoms of Parkinson’s. The study noted that people who used vitamin D supplements were able to walk further during a 6-minute walking test.

Some experts believe that vitamin D supplements improve motor function because they help prevent exercise-induced muscle damage and lower the risk of falls. Plus, vitamin D supplementation may improve muscle strength and balance to support stable movement.

These results appear promising, but it’s important to note that the same analysis found no significant difference in scores on a 10-meter walk test with regard to vitamin D supplementation. Still, experts believe supplementation may improve early motor symptoms like muscle stiffness or tremors.

Limitations in Research So Far

So far, no research has confirmed vitamin D as a treatment for Parkinson’s symptoms. It hasn’t been proven to slow Parkinson’s progression. Plus, many of the studies showing possible benefits have been small.

Studies evaluating the effect of vitamin D supplementation on Parkinson’s progression can be hard to carry out because of increasingly limited mobility. So far, some of these studies haven’t lasted long enough to pinpoint the effect of vitamin D on Parkinson’s progression.

Future research is needed to review the long-term effects of vitamin D supplementation on people with Parkinson’s disease or other movement disorders. New studies may also account for factors like age, sex, and how vitamin D supplements interact with Parkinson’s treatments.

It’s generally a good idea to correct vitamin D deficiency to support bone health, reduce fall risk, and address other health concerns, rather than specifically as a treatment for Parkinson’s disease.

Potential Risks of Using Vitamin D Supplements

Some people consider taking vitamin D supplements to make up for vitamin D insufficiency. This can occur if your body doesn’t absorb enough vitamin D from your diet.

Talk to your healthcare team if you’re thinking about vitamin D supplementation. This is especially important because there’s a risk of taking too much. The recommended dose for vitamin D supplements is 600 international units (IU) for adults under 70 and 800 IU for adults over 70.

Too much vitamin D can cause serious side effects. These include nausea, vomiting, muscle weakness, confusion, pain, dehydration, and kidney stones, among others.

Excessive vitamin D may also cause serious health complications, including kidney failure or irregular heartbeat. These effects can’t come from too much sunlight exposure. Most adverse effects only occur from taking too much vitamin D as a supplement.

Vitamin D supplements can also interact with some medications. Never start any new supplements or probiotics for Parkinson’s before speaking with your doctor.