Correlation between vitamin D status and Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale's comprehension subtest in patient with end-stage renal diseases

Abstract

Aim: Cognitive decline is an important problem for individuals, as well as for the community. Increasing evidence suggests that vitamin D may play a role in maintaining cognitive function and vitamin D deficiency may accelerate cognitive decline. The aim of this study was to evaluate the status of vitamin D in chronic renal failure (CRF) patients on peritoneal dialysis (PD) and to correlate the findings with cognitive functions. Materials and methods: The study was performed in Inonu University Turgut Ozal Medical Center. Serum 25hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) was measured and cognitive functions (Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale’s (WAIS) Comprehension Subtest) tested with 51 peritoneal dialysis patients and a control group consisting of 51 healthy individuals have similar conditions with patients. Individuals with other chronic diseases and smoking and alcohol habits which may impair cognitive functions were excluded from the study. Results: Compared to each groups we found negative correlation between 25(OH)D3 levels and WAIS’s Comprehension Subtest in patient and control group. The correlation between data was evaluated with the Spearman’s test (P = 0.597, r = 0.76 and P = 0.010 r = 0.356 respectively). Conclusions: In the literature, there is no consensus on the presence of an association between vitamin D levels and cognition. In this study vitamin D levels were measured as deficiency in both groups. Further studies are needed to investigate for increasing actual knowledge about this association.