Does Vitamin D reduce disease activity in people with multiple sclerosis? A Cochrane Review summary with commentary

Abstract Background Studies have suggested that vitamin D and lipid profile have been linked to the etiology of multiple sclerosis and have an impact on the activity and progression of the disease. Objectives The aim of the present study was to determine correlation between vitamin D level and lipid profile in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients and their effect on disease activity and progression for better management and control of risk factors. Patients and Methods It is a cross-sectional hospital based study carried on clinically definite 111 Relapsing Remitting MS (RRMS) patients according to McDonald criteria 2010 recruited from Multiple sclerosis unit at Ain Shams University Hospitals, both genders included and aged from 18 to 50 years old. All subjects were assessed regarding their basic demographic data, serum vitamin D level and lipid profile and correlated these data with their state of disease activity and degree of disability. Results The mean level of serum vitamin D was 18.93 ± 9.85 ng/mL. Serum vitamin D level was insufficient (< 30 ng/mL) in 81.08% of patients and sufficient (≥ 30 ng/mL) in 18.92% of patients. The mean level of total cholesterol (TC) was 204.9 ± 50.9 mg/dL, of tri-glycerides (TG) was 105.4 ± 44.6 mg/dL, of low density lipoprotein (LDL) was 122.2 ± 38.8 mg/dL and of high density lipoprotein (HDL) level was 56.2 ± 16.6 mg/dL. High relapse frequency was found to be significantly related to low serum vitamin D level with P-value 0.005. Near all lipid related variables were positively correlated to disease duration. TC and TG were positively related to EDSS while HDL was negatively related with it. Number of brain T2 lesions was significantly correlated with TC and TG levels with P-value 0.001 and 0.002 respectively. Fingolimod was found to be associated with dyslipidemia. We found that each 1 ng/mL increase in vitamin D was associated with decrease in TC of 1.48 mg/dL (95% CI: -2.42 to -0.54, P-value 0.002) and increase in HDL of 0.35 mg/dL (95% CI: 0.04 to -0.66, P-value 0.028). Conclusion Vitamin D deficiency is predominant among Egyptian MS patients. Patients with insufficient vitamin D were found to have higher annualized relapse rate (ARR). Patients with dyslipidemia found to have longer duration, more disability and higher brain T2 lesion load. Vitamin D was correlated positively with HDL and negatively with TC.

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High-dose vitamin D supplementation in multiple sclerosis – results from the randomized EVIDIMS (efficacy of vitamin D supplementation in multiple sclerosis) trial

Multiple Sclerosis Journal - Experimental Translational and Clinical ◽

10.1177/2055217320903474 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 6 (1) ◽

pp. 205521732090347 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Jan Dörr ◽

Priscilla Bäcker-Koduah ◽

Klaus-Dieter Wernecke ◽

Elke Becker ◽

Frank Hoffmann ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Multiple Sclerosis ◽

Vitamin D ◽

Disease Activity ◽

Sample Size ◽

Pilot Trial ◽

Vitamin D Supplementation ◽

High Dose ◽

Clinical Relapse ◽

Lesion Development ◽

Cholecalciferol Supplementation

Background Epidemiological, preclinical, and non-interventional studies link vitamin D (VD) serum levels and disease activity in multiple sclerosis (MS). It is unclear whether high-dose VD supplementation can be used as an intervention to reduce disease activity. Objectives The study aimed to compare the effects of every other day high- (20,400 IU) versus low-dose (400 IU) cholecalciferol supplementation on clinical and imaging markers of disease activity in patients with relapsing–remitting MS or clinically isolated syndrome. Methods The EVIDIMS (efficacy of vitamin D supplementation in multiple sclerosis) trial was a multicentre randomized/stratified actively controlled explorative phase 2a pilot trial with a double-blind intervention period of 18 months, add on to interferon-β1b. Results Fifty-three patients were randomized, and 41 patients completed the study. Cholecalciferol supplementation was well tolerated and safe in both arms. After 18 months, clinical (relapse rates, disability progression) and radiographical (T2-weighted lesion development, contrast-enhancing lesion development, brain atrophy) did not differ between both treatment arms. Post-study power calculations suggested that the sample size was too low to prove the hypothesis. Conclusions The results neither support nor disprove a therapeutic benefit of high-dose VD supplementation but provide a basis for sound sample size estimations in future confirmatory studies. www.clinicaltrials.gov/NCT01440062

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Treatment of Multiple Sclerosis – Relationship between Vitamin D and Interferon β-1b

European Neurological Review ◽

10.17925/enr.2015.10.02.124 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 10 (2) ◽

pp. 124 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Bruce Taylor ◽

Harold Moses ◽

Friedemann Paul ◽

Gustavo Suarez ◽

Mark Rametta ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Multiple Sclerosis ◽

Vitamin D ◽

Disease Activity ◽

Therapeutic Effects ◽

Cumulative Number ◽

Interferon Β ◽

Vitamin D Metabolism ◽

Treatment Benefit ◽

Vitamin D Levels ◽

Average Serum

There are many reports suggesting an association between vitamin D status and both the development of multiple sclerosis (MS) and its course. This relationship and the effects of vitamin D and interferon β-1b (IFNβ-1b) in the treatment of patients are reviewed in the BEtaferon/ Betaseron in Newly Emerging multiple sclerosis For Initial Treatment (BENEFIT) and the Betaferon/Betaseron Efficacy Yielding Outcomes of a New Dose in multiple sclerosis (BEYOND) studies. In the BENEFIT study the average serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25[OH]D) levels strongly predicted MS disease activity and progression. The probability of clinically definite MS (CDMS) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) activity was lower in these clinically isolated syndrome (CIS) patients with 25(OH)D levels ≥50 nmol/L and in those starting with IFNβ -1b. Furthermore, there was a beneficial effect on relapse rate, occurrence of new active MRI lesions and disease progression for a 50 nmol/L increase in 25(OH)D levels. Similarly, in relapsing-remitting (RR) MS patients from the BEYOND study serum 25(OH)D levels were inversely associated with MRI markers of MS activity. Genetic analysis of patients from these studies indicated that there may be a benefit in monitoring and managing vitamin D levels in early MS patients treated with IFNβ-1b and a cumulative number of risk alleles predict lower 25(OH)D levels in CIS and RRMS patients. Further studies have suggested that some of the IFNβ-1b therapeutic effects on relapse could be mediated through modulation of vitamin D metabolism. Thus, there seems to be a benefit on clinical and MRI measures if patients are treated with both vitamin D and IFNβ-1b. There is a need to further evaluate this effect in clinical trials. The relationship between vitamin D and MS disease activity along with the effects of vitamin D and IFNβ-1b in the treatment of MS patients is reviewed.

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Vitamin D and Multiple Sclerosis: Correlation, Causality, and Controversy

Autoimmune Diseases ◽

10.4061/2011/629538 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 2011 ◽

pp. 1-3 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Joost Smolders

Keyword(s):

Multiple Sclerosis ◽

Vitamin D ◽

Disease Activity ◽

Intervention Studies ◽

Vitamin D Supplementation ◽

Vitamin D Status ◽

Expanded Disability Status Scale ◽

Disability Status ◽

Edss Score

The last years, many studies reported associations between correlates of vitamin D exposure and several correlates of multiple sclerosis (MS) disease activity. This review discusses studies on vitamin D status, Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) score, and relapse activity of MS. Furthermore, several considerations for intervention studies on vitamin D supplementation in MS are provided.

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