Taking Vitamin D and calcium supplements twice a day mitigated the chances of getting vertigo again, according to a new study published in the August 5, 2020, online issue of Neurology. Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology, reported the research was conducted at Seoul National University College of Medicine in Korea over a year-long period. The study included 957 participants from Seoul, South Korea who had been diagnosed with benign paroxysmal positional vertigo. Basic vitamins and minerals are critical Besides offering hope for those who suffer vertigo specifically, the study also demonstrates how important these two nutrients are for overall health. “Our study suggests that for people with benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, taking a supplement of Vitamin D and calcium is a simple, low-risk way to prevent vertigo from recurring,” said Ji-Soo Kim, MD, PhD, lead researcher of the study. “It is especially effective if you have low Vitamin D levels to begin with.” Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo happens when a change in head position gives you a sudden spinning sensation. It's one of the most common types of vertigo. Treatment includes a doctor performing a series of head movements that shift particles in the ears that cause the vertigo. However, even with the standard treatment the condition tends to recur frequently. Not surprisingly, 86% of people with this form of vertigo find that it interrupts their daily life or causes them to miss days at work. Study details To conduct the study the participants were separated into two groups---intervention and observation. The 445 people in the intervention group had their Vitamin D levels taken at the start of the study. The 348 people with Vitamin D levels below 20 nanograms per milliliter (ng/mL) were started on supplements with 400 international units of Vitamin D and 500 milligrams of calcium twice daily. After an observation period of approximately one year, the results indicated those in the intervention group who took the supplements had a lower recurrence rate of vertigo episodes than those in the observation group. The study subjects taking supplements had an average recurrence rate of 0.83 times per person-year, compared to 1.10 times per person-year for those in the observation group---or a 24% reduction in the annual recurrence rate. There appeared to be greater benefit for those who were more deficient in Vitamin D at the start of the study. When searching for calcium and Vitamin D products, be sure to choose whole food vitamins and chelated minerals. Products from Optimal Health Systems providing Vitamin D and calcium include: • Optimal Whole Food Vitamin-Mineral • Optimal BonePlus Calcium • Optimal Longevi-D • Opti-Immune-VRL - - - Sources: American Academy of Neurology, Science Daily.
