Document Type : Special Articles

Authors

• Hamidreza Hatamian ¹
• Elham Bidabadi ²
• Seyed Mohammad Seyed Saadat ³
• Niloufar Seyed Saadat ³
• Ehsan Kazemnezhad ⁴
• Hamed Ramezani ⁵
• Babak Bakhshayesh ⁶

¹ Associate Professor, Department of Neurology, Poursina Hospital, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran.

² Assistant Professor, Department of Pediatric Neurology, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran

³ Medical Student, Medical Student Research Committee, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran

⁴ Trauma Research Center, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran

⁵ Resident, Department of Neurology, Poursina Hospital, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran

⁶ Assistant Professor, Department of Neurology, Poursina Hospital, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran

Abstract

Background: Although the precise etiology of multiple sclerosis (MS) is unknown, it seems that both genetic and environmental factors are important. Recent studies suggest that low serum vitamin D levels are important environmental factor in MS. The aim of this study was to compare the serum levels of vitamin D between MS patients and healthy subjects, and to determine its association with disability in MS patients.Methods:  In this cross-sectional study, a total of 52 patients with MS were randomly recruited and matched for age and sex with 52 healthy subjects. Demographic characteristics and serum vitamin D levels for both groups, as well as duration of disease Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) for MS patients were evaluated. Statistical analysis was performed by independent samples t-test and multiple linear regression analysis.Results: The mean serum vitamin D levels were 26.5 ± 16.3 ng/ml in MS patients vs. 37.1 ±19.7 in healthy subjects (P = 0.003). A linear regression analysis showed no significant association between vitamin D levels and EDSS score of patients with MS (P = 0.345), after adjusting for the covariates.Conclusion:Our findings did not suggest a protective association for serum vitamin D levels against disability in MS patients.