Effect of Vitamin D Supplementation on Lower Extremity Motor Function and Ambulation in Stroke Patients
Turk J Med Sci. 2021 Mar 12. doi: 10.3906/sag-2010-287
AyÇa Utkan Karasu, GÜlÇİn Kaymak KarataŞ
After 3 months
Probably would have recovered from stoke much better if had first restored the vitamin D levels
- perhaps 4 of the 50,000 IU pills in the first day or week
Items in both categories Stroke and Intervention
- Post-stroke fatigue cut in half by Vitamin D (just 600 IU daily in 3 months) – Nov 2021
- Stroke patients getting weekly 50,000 IU Vitamin D did better – trial March 2021
- Stroke not prevented by just 2,000 IU of vitamin D plus 840 mg Omega-3 (VITAL) – Feb 2020
- Stroke patients need more than 2,000 IU of vitamin D (found this time in Japan) – RCT June 2019
- Improved recovery from ischemic stroke with Vitamin D (300,000 IU injection) – RCT June 2018
- Ischaemic stroke – Vitamin D doubled survival (Injection followed by monthly 60,000 IU) – RCT Aug 2016
Download the PDF from Vitamin D Life
Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of vitamin D supplementation on ambulation and mobility in hospitalized patients undergoing stroke rehabilitation.
Material and methods: This study was conducted retrospectively between September 2020 and October 2020 in Gazi University Faculty of Medicine Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Department. Seventy-six patients who received inpatient stroke rehabilitation treatment between May 2018 and February 2020 were included in the study. The patients were divided into two groups as those who did and did not take vitamin D supplements. Lower extremity motor function and ambulation status were compared using Brunnstrom Recovery Stage (lower extremity) and Functional Ambulation Classification (FAC) scores before and after rehabilitation.
Results: Thirty-nine patients received vitamin D treatment during the rehabilitation process and 37 patients did not. The two groups were similar according to age, sex, time since stroke, stroke type, comorbid diseases, nutritional status, rehabilitation duration, and FAC and Brunnstrom scores before rehabilitation (p>0.05). At the end of rehabilitation, the changes in FAC and Brunnstrom scores were higher in patients receiving vitamin D supplementation (p=0.005 and p=0.018). The change in FAC and Brunnstrom scores in patients who were undergoing rehabilitation for the first time and/or in the first 3 months after stroke was higher in the group receiving vitamin D supplementation compared with the group not receiving vitamin D (p<0.05). In patients who were not within the first 3 months after stroke, vitamin D treatment did not affect FAC and Brunnstrom scores.
Conclusion: Vitamin D supplementation may increase the success of rehabilitation therapy in patients during the first 3 months post-stroke.