25-Hydroxyvitamin D levels in serum at the onset of multiple sclerosis

Abstract

Past sun exposure and vitamin D supplementation have been associated with a reduction in the risk of MS. We measured the serum concentration of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25[OH]D) at the time of MS diagnosis in 40 MS patients and 40 controls. We found no difference in the serum levels of 25(OH)D between MS patients and controls when all samples or samples obtained during winter months were compared, but MS patients had significantly lower serum 25(OH)D concentrations in June to September than the controls. The vitamin D stores were adequate for bone metabolism (> 37 nmol/L) in 70% of MS patients throughout the year and within the hypovitaminosis level (< 37 nmol/L) in 30% of MS patients at some time of the year. During MS-relapses, 25(OH)D levels were lower than in remission, but mostly within the reference range observed in relation with normal bone metabolism. We conclude that the vitamin D stores in most MS patients are adequate for their normal bone metabolism. However, lower vitamin D levels during MS relapses than in remission suggest that vitamin D could be involved in the regulation of the clinical disease activity of MS. The optimal serum levels of vitamin D for the regulation of immune responses remain to be determined.

Role of vitamin D in immune responses and autoimmune diseases, with emphasis on its role in multiple sclerosis

“…After MS onset, serum 25(OH)D 3 concentration declines [91] , and hypovitaminosis D is observed throughout the course of the disease, even in a clinically isolated syndrome (CIS) [92][93][94] . Thus, the studies measuring 25(OH)D 3 concentration in patients with MS are uninformative in deciding whether vitamin D can decrease the risk of MS [95,96] .…”

Serum Vitamin D Levels in Indian Patients with Multiple Sclerosis

“…During relapse, lower serum 25(OH) D levels have been reported in several MS populations, when compared to in remission [22,23]. Also more gadolinium enhancing lesions on T1 MRI have been reported in Germany in spring and early summer, and less in autumn [24].…”

Illuminating vitamin D effects on B-cells - the multiple sclerosis perspective

“…This is transported to the liver where it is hydroxylated into 25-hydroxy vitamin D [25(OH)D]. This is the main vitamin D metabolite measured in blood, and low levels of this metabolite were found in the sera of patients with MS. [69][70][71] Levels were lower compared with those of healthy controls. 69 A poor vitamin D status is associated with a higher incidence of MS.…”

“…This is the main vitamin D metabolite measured in blood, and low levels of this metabolite were found in the sera of patients with MS. [69][70][71] Levels were lower compared with those of healthy controls. 69 A poor vitamin D status is associated with a higher incidence of MS. In a large prospective case-control study including over 7 million people of the US military, Caucasian individuals with serum 25(OH)D levels in the upper quintile (>99 nmol/l) had an MS risk reduction of 62% compared with Caucasian individuals with serum 25 (OH)D levels in the bottom quintile (<63 nmol/l).…”