title: A review of the neuroprotective role of vitamin D in traumatic brain injury with implications for supplementation post-concussion.
abstract: Nutritional interventions are promising treatment adjuncts in the management of concussion. Vitamin D (VDH) supplementation has demonstrated neuroprotective properties in multiple models of acquired brain injury.
  
  
  
  Review the neuroprotective role of VDH supplementation following traumatic brain injury (TBI).
  
  
  
  A Medline search was conducted to review manuscripts investigating the influence of VDH status or supplementation on TBI outcomes.
  
  
  
  The search identified 165 studies, of which five were included. Four manuscripts studied a rodent model of TBI, while one studied a clinical sample. Vitamin D monotherapy independently reduced inflammation and neuronal injury following TBI, with a more robust effect observed in combination with progesterone (PROG). One study demonstrated VDH deficiency exacerbates post-TBI inflammatory response. One study in a clinical sample found combination therapy superior to PROG alone or placebo in improving outcomes after severe TBI. One study observed a more robust response to low-dose VDH compared to high-dose VDH when given in combination with PROG.
  
  
  
  A protective role for VDH and a vitamin D sufficient status was identified for numerous outcomes following TBI. However, VDH supplementation cannot be recommended at this time to improve outcomes following TBI.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Family & Community Medicine , University of Toronto , Toronto , ON , Canada.
authors.forename: David W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Lawrence
authors.affiliation: b Department of Cognitive Neurosciences , Toronto Rehabilitation Institute, University Health Network (UHN), University of Toronto , Toronto , ON , Canada.
authors.forename: Bhanu
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Sharma
mesh_terms: D001924:Brain Concussion / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000070642:Brain Injuries, Traumatic / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D014807:Vitamin D
keywords: Concussion; neuroprotection; traumatic brain injury (TBI); vitamin D