correlation between vitamin D and cognition: a review

Background: During the last 25 years, vitamin D -being a member of the superfamily of nuclear steroid transcription regulators - has emerged as a serious candidate in nervous system development and function and a therapeutic tool in a number of neurological pathologies. More recently, experimental and pre-clinical data suggest a link between vitamin D status and cognitive function. Human studies strongly support a correlation between low levels of circulating 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25[OH]D] and cognitive impairment or dementia in aging populations. In parallel, animal studies show that supplementation with vitamin D is protective against biological processes associated with Alzheimer's disease [AD] and enhances learning and memory performance in various animal models of aging and AD. More recently epidemiological associations have been made between low vitamin D and psychiatric disorders not typically associated with abnormalities in brain development such as depression and Alzheimer's disease

Aim of the Study: was to review the recent literature to investigate the correlation between vitamin D status and neurocognitive function

Methods: We searched the medical literature to retrieve studies for the review to 30 November 2017. electronic search in the scientific database from 1965 to 2017- [Medline, Embase, AMED, Psych INFO, the Cochrane Library websites were searched for English Publications were obtained from both reprint requests and by searching the database. Data extracted included authors, country, year of publication, characteristics of patients, pathophysiology, risk factors, clinical manifestations, different diagnostic approaches and treatment modalities

Conclusion: Accumulating evidence in the current literature indicate that vitamin D deficiency is highly prevalent among patients with cognitive impairment, and that low vitamin D status may negatively impact cognition and that hypovitaminosis D is usually associated with increased risk of developing AD and dementia. Nevertheless, while vitamin D supplementation is safe for those with cognitive impairment, there is no solid proof that they will see significant improvement in their symptoms

effect of cigarettes on acute pancreatitis among patients in Saudi Arabia

Background and purpose: questions remain unclear about the association of smoking status and the development of acute pancreatitis [AP]. We performed a meta-analysis of observational studies to explore this association

Materials and Methods: a computerized literature search was performed in MEDLINE and EMBASE through October 15, 2016. We also searched the reference lists of pertinent articles. We used a rand om-effects model to calculate the summary relative risks [SRRs] and their corresponding 95% confidence intervals [CIs]

Results: a total of 8 observational studies [4 case control and 4 prospective cohort/nested case control studies] were identified. Compared with never smokers, the summary RR estimates were 1.49 [95% CI, 1.29-1.78] forever smokers, 1.69 [95% CI, 1.42-2.21] for current smokers, and 1.19 [95% CI, 1.11-1.52] for former smokers. Smoking is found to be a potential risk factor for alcohol use, idiopathic factors and drugs related AP, but not for gallstone related AP, in the ever and current smokers. A dose response effect of tobacco use on the risk was ascertained: current smokers had a 40% [95% CI, 30%-50%] increased risk of AP for every additional 10 cigarettes per day

Conclusion: the current analysis suggests that smokers have an elevated risk of AP development. Further studies, however, are warranted before definitive conclusions can be drawn