Spring is Here!  Get out and enjoy the sunlight....it will make your brain happy!

Research suggest that Vitamin D from sunlight plays a beneficial role in Neuro-protection and improves outcomes after traumatic brain injury (TBI), including concussions, by modulating inflammation and oxidative stress.

Here's a more detailed look at the potential connection between vitamin D, sunlight, and concussion recovery:

• Vitamin D and TBI:
  • Some studies indicate that vitamin D deficiency may be linked to poorer functional recovery and survival outcomes in individuals with TBI.
  • Vitamin D has been shown to reduce neuroinflammation and secondary injury effects after concussions.
  • Preclinical studies demonstrate that vitamin D improves post-mTBI (mild traumatic brain injury) neuroinflammation and oxidative stress.
  • Vitamin D may protect against TBI by modulating the TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB pathway-mediated microglial polarization and neuroinflammation.
  • Vitamin D supplementation in deficient patients during the acute phase of TBI may lead to significant improvement in clinical outcomes.
• Vitamin D and Sunlight:
  • Vitamin D is primarily synthesized in the skin upon sun exposure.
  • Reduced sun exposure due to factors like hospitalization, impaired social functioning, and absence from work can increase the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency after TBI.
  • Vitamin D deficiency has been associated with various systemic conditions, including depression and impaired cognitive function.
• Potential Benefits of Vitamin D Supplementation:
  • Vitamin D supplementation may improve cognitive function and functional outcomes in individuals with TBI.
  • It may help lessen the inflammatory response after TBI, mitigating neuronal injury, decreasing neuronal cell death, and improving CNS functional outcomes.
  • Vitamin D supplementation may also be beneficial for reducing concussion-induced neuroinflammation.
• Ongoing Research:
  • More research is needed to fully understand the role of vitamin D in TBI and concussion recovery.
  • Studies should investigate serum vitamin D levels in patients during the acute phase of TBI, with a range of severity from mild/concussion to severe injuries, to explore whether pre-injury vitamin D levels are associated with different outcomes.