The evidence for a link between Parkinson’s disease and inadequate levels of vitamin D continues to grow. This paper presented the case of one patient with Parkinson’s disease where remarkable improvements were achieved with a daily vitamin D supplement of 4,000iu, and recommends further research.

It also supports the discovery of a Korean team in 2005 that people with Parkinson’s appear to be genetically less able to process vitamin D3, ending up with lower average vitamin D3 levels (Kim,JS et al. Journal of Korean Medical Science 2005; 20 (3):495-98).

Ed.- Surprisingly, the doctors then recommend daily supplementation of 2,000iu for the purposes of research. Perhaps they felt that this level was more likely to be acceptable to the US medical establishment.

The Vitamin D Council’s Dr John Cannell recommends that any research study into the therapeutic benefits of vitamin D3 should use a 5,000iu daily dose, the level needed to raise blood D3 levels to at least 50 nanograms a millilitre. This is the level normally achieved from cautious sunbathing during the summer in most countries within roughly 37o latitude from the equator. John claims that there is no reason to believe that this level would be toxic and points out that, if researchers or doctors are concerned, they can always carry out monthly blood vitamin D3 level checks.

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