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Feed your brain with fish
Vitamin D boosts brain power in older men, says study
PG Wodehouse fans know that when Bertie Wooster is in a particularly tricky situation, he commands his valet, Jeeves, to eat plenty of fish before applying his formidable brain to the problem.
Wooster may be on to something, according to researchers from Manchester University. Their research shows that vitamin D – synthesised naturally when the skin is exposed to the sun’s ultraviolet rays but also found in oily fish – improved the brain function of middle-aged men and, in particular, those aged over 60.
The study, published in the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry, compared the cognitive performance of more than 3,000 men aged 40 to 79 years at eight test centres across Europe.
Results showed that men with higher levels of vitamin D performed better in a test that gauges an individual’s memory, recognition capabilities and speed of information processing.
"Previous studies exploring the relationship between vitamin D and cognitive performance in adults have produced inconsistent findings but we observed a significant, independent association between a slower information-processing speed and lower levels of vitamin D," said lead author Dr David Lee, in Manchester’s School of Translational Medicine.
"The main strengths of our study are that it is based on a large population sample and took into account potential influences, such as depression and levels of physical activity.
"Interestingly, the association between increased vitamin D and faster information processing was more significant in men aged over 60 years, although the biological reasons for this remain unclear.
"The positive effects vitamin D appears to have on the brain need to be explored further but certainly raise questions about its potential benefit for those with or susceptible to dementia."
Rebecca Wood, Chief Executive of the Alzheimer’s Research Trust, said: "This extensive study adds to growing evidence of the positive effect that vitamin D can have on the brain. Many foods that contain vitamin D, such as oily fish and eggs, are also good sources of vitamin B12, which studies have shown can also help protect the brain. Sensible exposure to sunlight is another important source of vitamin D for the body, never easy in a British summer."
Useful links
- Feel better with fish
- Health benefits of eating fish
- Can you eat too much fish?
- Don't forget your vitamin D
- Oily fish may help protect against kidney cancer
- Oily fish may help protect against aggressive prostate cancer
- A-Z of vitamins and minerals: vitamin D
- Vitamin D supplements may boost life expectancy
- Parkinson's linked to vitamin D deficiency
- Sunshine: now the good news
- Vitamin d deficiency linked to back pain in older women
- Viva vit D?
Information on this site is for interest only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. You should consult your own doctor about any specific health concerns.
