Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 12, 2025
A Method of Trigonometric Modelling of Seasonal Variation Demonstrated with Multiple Sclerosis Relapse Data
Published on: December 9, 2015
Vitamin D Supplementation and Cognition in Adults: A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials
Olivier Beauchet1,2,3,4, Liam A Cooper-Brown5, Gilles Allali6
1Department of Medicine, University of Montreal, Montreal, QC, Canada. olivier.beauchet@umontreal.ca.
Background:
The role of vitamin D supplementation in improving cognition and slowing the incidence of minor and major neurocognitive disorders is a matter of debate. To our knowledge, no systematic review of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) has examined this question in adults.
Objectives:
The purpose of this systematic review is to synthesize the evidence regarding the effects of vitamin D supplementation on cognitive performance and neurocognitive disorders in adults.
Methods:
A systematic search of scientific articles in English or French was conducted. The MEDLINE (PubMed), EMBASE (Ovid, EMBASE), PsychINFO, and Cochrane Central databases were searched for records without any limit on publication date in May 2021. Inclusion criteria were (1) human participants, (2) RCT, (3) participant age ≥ 18, (4) vitamin D supplementation as the intervention, and (5) cognition (i.e., cognitive performance or cognitive status such as cognitively healthy or minor and major neurocognitive disorder) as the primary outcome. Two independent reviewers both assessed all eligible studies' full texts and the risk of bias arising from methodological issues using a standardized procedure.
Results:
Of the 2137 abstracts identified, 61 (2.9%) met screening inclusion criteria. After full text examination, 41 records (67.2%) were excluded. As a result, 20 RCTs (32.8%) were included in the systematic review. The review yielded mixed findings and, thus, failed to find evidence supporting cognitive benefits from vitamin D supplementation or suggesting a causal association between vitamin D and cognitive function. Half of the RCTs reported mixed results, one quarter negative results, and the last quarter positive effects for vitamin D supplementation on cognitive performance. The variability in serum 25-dihydroxyvitamin D concentration thresholds, the cognitive tests employed, the supplementation doses, and the samples' characteristics (i.e., ethnicity or number of participants) may explain these mixed findings.
Conclusion:
This systematic review of RCTs does not support a role for vitamin D supplementation in enhancing cognition in adults.
More Related Videos
07:01Working Memory Training for Older Participants: A Control Group Training Regimen and Initial Intellectual Functioning Assessment
Published on: September 20, 2020
06:58Highlighting and Reducing the Impact of Negative Aging Stereotypes During Older Adults' Cognitive Testing
Published on: January 24, 2020
Related Concept Videos
01:30Cognitive Enhancers: Cholinesterase Inhibitors and NMDA Receptor Antagonists
01:30Cognitive Development During Adulthood
01:23Role of Skin in Vitamin D Synthesis
The solar UV B rays (290-315 nm) are absorbed by the skin, and 7-dehydrocholesterol (provitamin D3) photolyzes it to previtamin D3, which undergoes a rapid transformation to vitamin...
01:25Role of Vitamins in Maintaining Bone Health
Vitamin A
Vitamin A is involved in the process of bone remodeling. Retinoic acid, the active metabolite of Vitamin A, has nuclear receptors in osteoblasts and osteoclasts, which are involved in bone remodeling.
Vitamin B12
Vitamin B12 acts as a cofactor during the formation of osteoblast-related proteins, such as osteocalcin. Vitamin B12 plays a role...
01:15Drug Dosing: Geriatric Patients
01:30Vitamins