Document Type : Special Articles
Authors
- Masoud Nikanfar 1
- Ali Akbar Taheri-Aghdam 1
- Maria Yazdani 1
- Sheida Shaafi 1
- Nooshin Masoudian 2
- Hossein Akbari 2
- Parisa Youhanaee 2
- Hamzeh Abbaszadeh 3
1 Department of Neurology, Neuroscience Research Center, Imam Reza Hospital, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
2 Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
3 Department of Nutrition, School of Nutrition and Health, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
Abstract
Background: It seems that serum vitamin D levels are one of the potential environmental factors affecting the severity of multiple sclerosis (MS). In this study, we aim to evaluate vitamin D levels in MS patients and healthy subjects and assess the relationship between vitamin D level and disability.Methods: In this case-control study, 168 rapid relapsing MS patients and 168 matched healthy controls were randomly included in this study. Demographic characteristics and serum vitamin D levels for patients and controls, as well as expanded disability status scale (EDSS), duration of disease and diagnostic lag for patients were evaluated. We followed up patients for 6 months and relapses were recorded.Results: The mean serum vitamin D levels were 19.16 ± 17.37 inpatients and 25.39 ± 19.67 in controls (P = 0.560). The mean serum vitamin D levels were 12.65 ± 13.3 in patients with relapses and 22.08 ± 18.22 in patients without any relapses (P < 0.001). There was no significant correlation between E SS score and serum vitamin D levels (r = −0.08, P = 0.280). There was a significant positive correlation between EDSS score and disease duration (r = 0.52, P < 0.001).Conclusion: In conclusion, vitamin D level in patients with MS was significantly lower than the healthy subjects, but no significant relationship was found between vitamin D levels and disability. Our findings did not suggest a protective role for serum vitamin D levels against disability.
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