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What is needed to keep persons with multiple sclerosis vitamin D-sufficient throughout the year?

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Abstract

Vitamin D sufficiency has been associated with lower risk of multiple sclerosis and may also have a favorable effect on the course of the disease. The aim of this work was to identify predictors of serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D (25[OH]D) levels in persons with multiple sclerosis (MS) and to assess the effect of high-dose vitamin D3 supplementation on vitamin D status. A 96-week randomized controlled trial was performed to assess the effect of supplementation with 20,000 IU of vitamin D3 weekly on bone mineral density in 68 patients. We collected data on vitamin D intake and UV-exposure and repeatedly measured serum 25(OH)D levels. Half of the participants had sufficient winter vitamin D levels at baseline (≥50 nmol/l). Vitamin D status was predicted by sun exposure during the last 3 months and by ingested vitamin D from diet and supplements. In the placebo group, the proportion of the participants with sufficient levels increased from 55 % in winter to 92 % during the summer. In the intervention group, all participants had winter 25(OH)D levels above 50 nmol/l at the end of the study. MS patients who have no sun exposure and low dietary vitamin D intake during the winter months should be recommended to take vitamin D supplements to achieve serum 25(OH)D levels of at least 50 nmol/l.

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Acknowledgments

We thank the patients for participating in the study. At the University Hospital of North Norway, study nurses Grethe Berg Johnsen and Marianne Røst (Department of Neurology) and May Rokstad Solem, Elin Hanssen, and Trond Isaksen (Clinical Trial Unit) performed measurements and function tests. Inger Sperstad handled files (Clinical Research Department). The Department of Laboratory Medicine analyzed blood samples and provided skilled assistance and support throughout the study. Bjørg Almås performed 25(OH)D measurements (Hormone Laboratory, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway). The study received financial support from the University of Tromsø, the Research Council of Norway, and Odd Fellows Research Foundation for Multiple Sclerosis.

Conflicts of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Ethical standard

The human studies have been approved by the appropriate ethics commitee and have therefore been performed in accordance with the ethical standards laid down in the 1964 Declaration of Helsinki.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurology, University Hospital of North Norway, P.O. Box 33, 9038, Tromsø, Norway

    Linn H. Steffensen

  2. Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Tromsø, Tromsø, Norway

    Linn H. Steffensen & Margitta T. Kampman

  3. Department of Community Medicine, Centre for Sami Health Research, University of Tromsø, Tromsø, Norway

    Magritt Brustad

  4. Centre for Clinical Research and Education, University Hospital of North Norway, Tromsø, Norway

    Margitta T. Kampman

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  1. Linn H. Steffensen
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  2. Magritt Brustad
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Correspondence to Linn H. Steffensen.

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Steffensen, L.H., Brustad, M. & Kampman, M.T. What is needed to keep persons with multiple sclerosis vitamin D-sufficient throughout the year?. J Neurol 260, 182–188 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00415-012-6611-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00415-012-6611-6

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