Low vitamin D level is associated with higher relapse rate in natalizumab treated MS patients

Vitamin D in Multiple Sclerosis and Central Nervous System Demyelinating Disease—A Review

“…In an observational study, 156 patients were evaluated with respect to 25(OH)D and relapse rate before and after initiation of disease modifying medications (DMTs) for MS (66). In 76 patients, DMT was started before vitamin D supplementation by 4.2 years (±2.7 years), whereas both treatments were started simultaneously in 80 patients (67). With supplementation, the 25(OH)D level increased from 49 ± 22 nmol/L to 110 ± 26 nmol/L on average.…”

“…Pooling of data showed a strong impact of the addition of vitamin D on relapse rate: every 10 nmol increase in 25(OH)D level was associated with a reduction in the relapse incidence rate of 13.7%, although there seemed to be no added benefit above a 25(OH)D of 110 nmol/L. In related work, Scott et al (67) showed that among 118 patients using natalizumab, 45 were vitamin D deficient. Sixteen of 26 patients with MS-related relapses in the year before vitamin D testing, and 12 of 17 with relapses after testing were noted among the vitamin Ddeficient patients.…”

“…Sixteen of 26 patients with MS-related relapses in the year before vitamin D testing, and 12 of 17 with relapses after testing were noted among the vitamin Ddeficient patients. Patients who were vitamin D sufficient had significantly fewer relapses pretesting and posttesting (67). Notably, studies that have shown that 25(OH)D levels are reduced during relapses as compared with periods of remission (68,69) need to be viewed with caution because it is not possible to determine whether sun-avoidant behavior at the time of relapse is a contributing factor.…”

No correlation was observed between vitamin D levels and disability of patients with multiple sclerosis between latitudes 18° and 30° South

“…There have been studies showing, for example, a correlation between EDSS and serum vitamin D levels in Europe and North America 33,34 . There have also been studies showing a potential role for serum vitamin D levels for MS relapse prevention in some populations 35,36,37 , and control over lesions seen on MRI in some countries 38 . The authors of the present study do not dispute the role of vitamin D in human health and the immune system.…”

Die Life-SMS-Methodik

“…Oberhalb dieses Vitamin-D-Werts verstärken sich die immunmodulierenden Wirkungen von Interferon-β [10]. Ein fast identisches Verhalten konnte aktuell auch bei einer Behandlung mit Natalizumab (Handelsname: Tysabri ® ) nach gewiesen werden [11]. …”