title: Assessing vitamin D in the central nervous system.
abstract: Epidemiological and experimental evidence suggest that vitamin D deficiency is a risk factor for multiple sclerosis and other autoimmune diseases. The activated form of vitamin D exerts several immunomodulating properties in vitro and in vivo, that could contribute to explain the association with multiple sclerosis. Hypovitaminosis D is also associated with several other neurological diseases that is less likely mediated by dysregulated immune responses, including Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's disease, schizophrenia and affective disorders, suggesting a more diverse role for vitamin D in the maintenance of brain health. Accordingly, both the vitamin D receptor and the enzymes necessary to synthesize bioactive 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D are expressed in the brain, and hypovitaminosis D is associated with abnormal development and function of the brain. We here review current knowledge on the intrathecal vitamin D homeostasis in heath and disease, highlighting the need to assess vitamin D in the intrathecal compartment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Oslo University Hospital Ullevål, Oslo, Norway. trygve.holmoy@rr-research.no
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Holmøy
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Moen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001927:Brain Diseases / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000378:metabolism*; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: D014807:Vitamin D