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Clear Brain Plaques with This Nutrient

Posted By: RealAge on 10/01/2011

If your mother gave you vitamin D-rich cod liver oil when you were a child, she may have been way ahead of her time.

A new animal study from Japan suggests that vitamin D may help clear the brain of amyloid beta, a toxic protein-like compound that accumulates in the brains of Alzheimer's patients.

Human Research Support
This animal study validates the results of a previous study done in human Alzheimer's patients. In the human study, vitamin D together with curcumin -- a chemical found in turmeric spice -- appeared to stimulate the immune system in a way that helped clear the brain of toxic amyloid beta. But this new animal research suggests that vitamin D alone may be able to do that job nicely. Even more amazing, the lab animals that received vitamin D were able to remove a significant amount of amyloid beta buildup in their brains, literally overnight. It seems the vitamin may somehow regulate production of transporter proteins that ferry amyloid beta across the blood-brain barrier and out of the brain. Pretty exciting stuff!

Many grown-ups lack vitamin D -- especially in the winter months. Are you ready to make sure you get your fill? Try these strategies:

Go fishing. Canned salmon supplies a whopping 530 international units (IU) of vitamin D for each 3-ounce serving. Or open the canned tuna for 360 IU of vitamin D from a 3-ounce serving.

Seek fortification. Grab the orange juice that's been fortified with vitamin D and you'll add an additional 100 IU of the sunshine vitamin to your day with each cup you drink.

Crack an egg. If you like scrambled eggs, you'll garner 20–26 IU of vitamin D per large egg.