Analysis of Serum Vitamin D Level and Related Factors in Patients With Restless Legs Syndrome

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to detect serum vitamin D (VitD) levels in patients with primary restless legs syndrome (RLS). The further objective was to analyze the relationship of VitD levels with the severity of RLS symptoms, sleep, anxiety, and depression.Methods: The serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] levels of 57 patients with primary RLS and the healthy physical examinees in our hospital during the same period were detected. The International Restless Legs Syndrome Study Group (IRLSSG) rating scale for measuring RLS severity and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) Scale, 24-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD24), and 14-item Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAMA14) were used to assess the severity of symptoms, sleep, and emotional state of patients with RLS. Based on VitD level and IRLSSG score, they were grouped for analysis.Results: The serum 25(OH)D level was significantly lower in patients with RLS than in healthy controls, and the incidence of insufficient serum VitD levels was significantly higher in patients with RLS than in healthy people (both P < 0.05). The serum VitD level was significantly lower in (extremely) severe patients with RLS than in mild to moderate patients with RLS (P < 0.05). The IRLSSG scale score and HAMD24 score were significantly higher in patients with RLS with insufficient serum VitD levels than those with normal serum VitD levels (both P < 0.05). Correlation analysis of IRLSSG scale score with serum VitD level and each scale score in patients with RLS showed that IRLSSG scale score was negatively correlated with VitD level, but positively correlated with PSQI, HAMA14, and HAMD24 scores. The results of correlation analysis between serum VitD levels and each scale score in patients with RLS indicated that serum VitD levels were negatively correlated with IRLSSG scale scores, PSQI scores, and HAMD24 scores.Conclusion: The serum VitD level is generally lower in patients with RLS than in healthy people, and lower serum VitD level is associated with more severe symptoms of RLS, worse quality of sleep, and worse depression.

Association between thyroid function and disease severity in restless legs syndrome

“…Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS), also known as Willis-Ekbom disease (1), is a common neurological sensory-motor disorder, mainly characterized by strong discomfort of the lower limbs at night or at rest and the irresistible desire to move the legs (2), which is estimated to affect 0.1 ∼ 15% of the general population (3). RLS patients also suffer from sleep disturbance and depression (4), which can strongly impact the quality of life (5).…”

“…Genetic studies had identified MEIS1 as an RLS-predisposing gene (8,9), which increases the risk of RLS (10). Although the exact pathophysiology of RLS is not fully understood, there is robust evidence that the neurotransmitter dopamine (DA) and iron deficiency are associated with the pathogenesis of RLS (3).…”

Restless leg syndrome and associated factors in patients with end-stage renal disease on haemodialysis.

“…These findings are also supported by Huzmeli et al 24 There was a recent study done showing that patients with low vitamin D levels experience RLS more often proving the same point of view as discussed in the current study. 25 In similarity to this, Almeneessier et al noticed Vitamin D as a profound propagating factor for RLS. 26 A metaanalysis was published reporting a significant correlation of serum Vitamin D levels with the RLS.…”

Polysomnographic nighttime features of Restless Legs Syndrome: A systematic review and meta-analysis

“…Some sleep parameters were transformed and unified before the statistical analysis. We conducted a meta-analysis of a total of 15 sleep parameters, TST, WASO, SE%, SL, SS, AWN, N1%, N2%, N3%, SWS%, REM%, REML, AHI, AI, and PLMI, which were included in 26,13,26,16,4,3,22,23,4,20,17,3,6,10, and 21 studies, respectively. Regarding the macroscopic structure of sleep, meta-analysis showed that TST min [SMD = −0.37, 95% CI: (−0.56, −0.18)], SE% [SMD = −0.61, 95% CI: (−0.80, 0.41)], N2% [SMD = −0.49, 95% CI: (−0.62, 0.36)], and REM% [SMD = −0.31, 95% CI: (−0.45, −0.16)] were significantly decreased in patients with RLS compared with the HC group, and the difference was statistically significant, while the WASO min [SMD = 0.57, 95% CI: (0.11, 1.02)], SL min [SMD = 0.34, 95% CI:(0.18 0.50)], SS event/h [SMD = 0.64, 95% CI: (0.33, 0.96)], AWN event/h [SMD = 0.72, 95% CI: (0.33, 1.12)], N1% [SMD = 0.37, 95% CI: (0.15, 0.59)], REML min [SMD = 0.78, 95% CI: (0.39, 1.16)], AI event/h [SMD = 0.61, 95% CI: (0.26, 0.95)], and PLMI event/h [SMD = 1.01, 95% CI: (0.80, 1.23)] were significantly increased, and the difference was statistically significant.…”

“…Previous genome-wide association studies had demonstrated that MEIS1, LBXCOR1, and BTBD9 are the RLSpredisposing genes (6)(7)(8), which increase the risk of RLS (9). Although the exact pathophysiological mechanisms of RLS are unknown, there is growing research evidence that dopaminergic neurons and iron deficiency are linked with the pathogenesis of RLS (3).…”