Vitamin D and the Selected Diseases of the Nervous System

Interest in the role of vitamin D in the human body has greatly increased in the last decade. Many scientific studies provide the evidence of vitamin D deficiency, which is considered to be one of the most serious health problems in children, young people as well as those middle-aged and older people. The effects of vitamin D deficiency in the prenatally period can affect the health condition at later age, and can be related to diseases of chronic and progressive nature. Nowadays, vitamin D is seen rather as a hormone and is said to have pleiotropic effect. Apart from its classical effect on calcium and phosphate metabolism, vitamin D is also applied in the prophylaxis and treatment of the cardiovascular system and metabolic diseases, cancer or autoimmune diseases. Taking into account scientific reports on certain diseases of the nervous system, there is an indication regarding a relationship between their occurrence and the deficit of vitamin D. Therefore, this vitamin can be seen as a potential “candidate” to support the prevention as well as treatment of these diseases. It should be emphasized however, that not everything in this matter is absolutely certain and clear; further studies are still required in this area. (JNNN 2015;4(2):85–90)