Seasonal variations of 25-OH vitamin D serum levels are associated with clinical disease activity in multiple sclerosis patients

J Neurol Sci. 2017 Apr 15:375:160-164. doi: 10.1016/j.jns.2017.01.059. Epub 2017 Jan 21.

Abstract

Low 25-hydroxy vitamin D (25-[OH]-D) serum concentrations have been associated with higher disease activity in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. In a large cross-sectional study we assessed the vitamin D status in MS patients in relation to seasonality and relapse rate. 415 MS-patients (355 relapsing-remitting MS and 60 secondary-progressive, 282 female, mean age 39.1years) of whom 25-(OH)-D serum concentrations were determined at visits between 2010 and 2013 were included in the study. All clinical data including relapse at visit and expanded disability status scale were recorded in a standardized manner by an experienced neurologist. Seasonal variations of 25-(OH)-D serum concentrations were modelled by sinusoidal regression and seasonal variability in the prevalence of relapse by cubic regression. The mean 25-(OH)-D serum concentration was 24.8ng/ml (range 8.3-140ng/ml) with peak levels of 32.2ng/ml in July/August and nadir in January/February (17.2ng/ml). The lowest modelled prevalence of relapse was in September/October (28%) and the highest modelled prevalence in March/April (47%). The nadir of 25-(OH)-D serum concentrations preceded the peak in prevalence of relapses by two months. In summary, seasonal variation of 25-(OH)-D serum levels were inversely associated with clinical disease activity in MS patients. Future studies should investigate whether vitamin D supplementation in MS patients may decrease the seasonal risk for MS relapses.

Keywords: 25-Hydroxyvitamin-D; Disease activity; Multiple sclerosis; Relapse; Seasonal variations; Vitamin D.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Multiple Sclerosis / blood*
  • Multiple Sclerosis / physiopathology*
  • Recurrence
  • Seasons*
  • Vitamin D / analogs & derivatives*
  • Vitamin D / blood
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Vitamin D
  • 25-hydroxyvitamin D