Dietary vitamin D3 supplementation at 10× the adequate intake improves functional capacity in the G93A transgenic mouse model of ALS, a pilot study

To determine the effects of dietary vitamin D(3) (D(3)) at 10-fold the adequate intake (AI) on functional and disease outcomes and lifespan in the transgenic G93A mouse model of ALS.

Vitamin D has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and neuroprotective properties, and may mitigate amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) pathology. Aims: To determine the effects of dietary vitamin D(3) (D(3)) at 10-fold the adequate intake (AI) on functional and disease outcomes and lifespan in the transgenic G93A mouse model of ALS.

Although disease outcomes were not affected, D(3) supplementation at 10-fold the AI improved paw grip endurance and motor performance in the transgenic G93A mouse model of ALS, specifically in males.

Starting at age 40 days, 32 G93A mice (21 M, 11 F) were provided ad libitum with either an adequate (AI; 1 IU/g feed) or high (HiD; 10 IU/g feed) D(3) diet. Differences were considered significant at P≤ 0.10, as this was a pilot study.

For paw grip endurance, HiD mice had a 7% greater score between 60-133 d versus AI mice (P= 0.074). For motor performance, HiD mice had a 22% greater score between 60-133 days (P= 0.074) versus AI mice due to changes observed in male mice, where HiD males had a 33% greater score (P= 0.064) versus AI males. There were no significant diet differences in disease onset, disease progression, or lifespan.