title: Inter-dependence of vitamin D levels with serum lipid profiles in multiple sclerosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess whether vitamin D (VD) levels in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients exhibit inter-dependence with serum lipid profile variables (serum cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein or HDL, low-density lipoprotein or LDL, and triglycerides) and to investigate the associations with clinical disability measures.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study population consisted of consecutive 178 MS patients (age: 46.6±10.6 years; disease duration: 13.8±10.3 years). The patients were assessed for fasting lipid profile and VD obtained concomitantly. Neurological disability using the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) was obtained within ±6 months of the lipid profile. The associations between the HDL, LDL, total cholesterol and total cholesterol to HDL ratio with deseasonalized VD levels and their relationships with EDSS and the MS Severity Score (MSSS) were analyzed using regression methods.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The cholesterol to HDL ratio was associated with the deseasonalized VD (r(p)=-0.18, p=0.019) and VD3 (r(p)=-0.17, p=0.028) levels. The probability of VD3 sufficiency was associated with HDL>60 mg/dl status (p=0.015, OR=0.42, 95% CI=0.20 to 0.86) and with total cholesterol to HDL ratio<3.5 status (p<0.001, OR=4.07, 95% CI=2.03 to 8.15). In stepwise regression models, EDSS was associated with total cholesterol to HDL ratio (p=0.008, r(p)=0.21) whereas MSSS was associated with deseasonalized 25-hydroxy VD3 (p=0.021, r(p)=-0.18). The probability of EDSS≥4.0 was also associated with total cholesterol to HDL ratio (p=0.011, OR=1.59, 95% CI=1.11 to 1.26).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results suggest inter-dependence between the total cholesterol to HDL ratio and deseasonalized vitamin D levels in MS patients. Disability measures in MS are also associated with these inter-dependent variables.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, State University of New York, Buffalo, NY 14203, USA. BGuttman@theJNI.Org
authors.forename: Bianca
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Weinstock-Guttman
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Zivadinov
authors.forename: Murali
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ramanathan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015331:Cohort Studies; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D050356:Lipid Metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000097:blood*; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D014807:Vitamin D