Objectives: Vitamin D is important in normal brain development. In animals low vitamin D level is associated with brain morphological alterations including enlargement of the brain. Whether a similar association exists in humans is unknown. Here we investigated the relationship between vitamin D and total intracranial volume as well as total volume of the cortical grey and cerebral white matter and that of the ventricles in young healthy women.
Methods: To assess volumes we applied semi-automatic user-independent MR volumetry. For the vitamin D measurements automated electrochemiluminescence immunoassay was used.
Results: We found a significant negative correlation between vitamin D and total intracranial volume as well as total cortical grey and cerebral white matter volumes.
Discussion: This association may reflect a trait-like relationship between vitamin D and brain size possibly determined in early development.
Keywords: 25(OH)D; Brain volumetry; Intracranial volume; MRI; Vitamin D.