Researchers have found certain processes regulated by Vitamin D3 which may help treat people with Alzheimer's disease.
Author Dr. Milan Fiala and her team from David Geffen School of Medicine at ULCA have identified a new mechanism which is controlled by vitamin D3 that may assist the body getting rid of amyloid beta, the main factor which causes Alzheimer's disease.
Although the research never fully understood the mechanism, the findings showed that vitamin D together with curcumin, a chemical compound found in turmeric spice, regulates a particular gene in the immunce cell which enhances the immune system to clear away the protein, amyloid beta on the brain and blood stream.
In the study, blood samples were taken from known Alzheimer's disease patients and those who were healthy (as control). They isolated a known immune cell called macrophage and the amyloid beta itself and then incubated it. They then added an active form of vitamin D3 called, 1a, 25-dihydroxyvitamin D3.
Among their key findings:
They found that adding the vitamin opened a specific chloride channel which enhances the uptake of amyloid beta protein of macrophages through phagocytosis. In addition, the vitamin also assisted in the transcription of this chloride channel.
The findings demonstrates that the active form of Vitamin D3 may have an important role in regulating the immune system.
According to the team, the research has to be clinically tested to assess the effect of vitamin D3 on Alzheimer's disease patients.
Author Dr. Milan Fiala and her team from David Geffen School of Medicine at ULCA have identified a new mechanism which is controlled by vitamin D3 that may assist the body getting rid of amyloid beta, the main factor which causes Alzheimer's disease.
Although the research never fully understood the mechanism, the findings showed that vitamin D together with curcumin, a chemical compound found in turmeric spice, regulates a particular gene in the immunce cell which enhances the immune system to clear away the protein, amyloid beta on the brain and blood stream.
In the study, blood samples were taken from known Alzheimer's disease patients and those who were healthy (as control). They isolated a known immune cell called macrophage and the amyloid beta itself and then incubated it. They then added an active form of vitamin D3 called, 1a, 25-dihydroxyvitamin D3.
Among their key findings:They found that adding the vitamin opened a specific chloride channel which enhances the uptake of amyloid beta protein of macrophages through phagocytosis. In addition, the vitamin also assisted in the transcription of this chloride channel.
The findings demonstrates that the active form of Vitamin D3 may have an important role in regulating the immune system.
According to the team, the research has to be clinically tested to assess the effect of vitamin D3 on Alzheimer's disease patients.
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