Iranian Consensus on Use of Vitamin D in Patients With Multiple Sclerosis Publisher Pubmed



Jahromi SR^{1, 2} ; Sahraian MA^{1, 3} ; Togha M^{3, 4} ; Sedighi B⁵ ; Shayegannejad V⁶ ; Nickseresht A⁷ ; Nafissi S⁸ ; Mohebbi N⁹ ; Majdinasab N¹⁰ ; Foroughipour M¹¹ ; Etemadifar M¹² ; Moghadam NB¹³ ; Ayramlou H¹⁴ ; Ashtari F⁶ Show All Authors Show Affiliations
Source: BMC Neurology Published:2016

Abstract

Background: Accumulating evidences from experimental, epidemiologic and clinical studies support the potential linkage between poor vitamin D status and the risk of developing Multiple Sclerosis (MS), as well as, an adverse disease course. However, the results of the trials on the clinical outcomes of vitamin D supplementation in MS patients are less consistent which brought many discrepancies in routine practice. In this article we presented a summary of a symposium on vitamin D and MS. In this symposium we aim to review the current data about the relationship between vitamin D and MS, and suggest management guides for practicing neurologists. Discussion: Generally, supplementation seems to be reasonable for all MS and clinically isolated syndrome (Rinaldi et al., Toxins 7:129-37, 2015) patients with serum 25(OH)D level below 40ng/ml. In patients with vitamin D insufficiency or deficiency, a large replacing dose (e.g. 50,000IU capsules of D per week for 8-12 week) is recommended. Panel also suggested: the checking of the serum vitamin D, and calcium level, as well as, patients' compliance after the initial phase; a maintenance treatment of 1500-2000IU daily or equivalent intermittent (weekly, biweekly or monthly) Dose, considering the patient's compliance; routine check of serum vitamin D level at least two times a year especially at the beginning of spring and autumn; Serum vitamin D evaluation for first degree relatives of MS patients at high risk age and supplementation in case of insufficiency (25(OH)D less than 40 ng/ml); correction of vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency before pregnancy, as well as, a daily dose of 1500-2000IU or equivalent biweekly intake in 2nd and 3rd trimesters; stopping supplementation if 25(OH)D serum level exceeds 100ng/ml. Summary: Although the results of high power studies are not available, correcting vitamin D status seems plausible in all MS and CIS patients. Maintaining the serum 25(OH)D level between 40 and 100 ng/ml is not known to exert adverse effect. More ever, it might be associated with lower disease activity. © 2016 Jahromi et al.