Retinol levels are associated with magnetic resonance imaging outcomes in multiple sclerosis.
BACKGROUND
Vitamin A has immunomodulatory properties and may regulate the transcription of genes involved in remyelination.


OBJECTIVE
To investigate the association between retinol and disease activity in multiple sclerosis (MS).


METHODS
Cohort study of 88 relapsing-remitting MS patients, originally included in a randomised placebo-controlled trial of omega-3 fatty acids in MS (the OFAMS study), followed prospectively for 24 months with repeated assessments of serum-retinol and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). All patients were initiated on interferon β-1a after month 6.


RESULTS
Each 1 µmol/L increase in serum-retinol reduced the odds (95% confidence interval) for new T1 gadolinium enhanced (Gd(+)) lesions by 49 (8-70)%, new T2 lesions by 42 (2-66)%, and combined unique activity (CUA) by 46 (3-68)% in simultaneous MRI scans, and 63 (25-82)% for new T1Gd(+) lesions, 49 (3-73)% for new T2 lesions and 43 (12-71)% for CUA the subsequent month. Serum-retinol also predicted new T1Gd(+) and T2 lesions six months ahead. The associations were not affected by HLA-DRB1*15, or serum levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D, eicosapentaenoic acid or docosahexaenoic acid.


CONCLUSIONS
Serum retinol is inversely associated with simultaneous and subsequent MRI outcomes in RRMS.
Department of Neurology, Innlandet Hospital Trust, Lillehammer, Norway.
Kristin I
KI
Løken-Amsrud
Kjell-Morten
KM
Myhr
Søren J
SJ
Bakke
Antonie G
AG
Beiske
Kristian S
KS
Bjerve
Bård T
BT
Bjørnarå
Harald
H
Hovdal
Finn
F
Lilleås
Rune
R
Midgard
Tom
T
Pedersen
Jurate Saltyte
JS
Benth
Øivind
Ø
Torkildsen
Stig
S
Wergeland
Trygve
T
Holmøy
D000328:Adult; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016899:Interferon-beta / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020529:Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology*; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000097:blood*; D055815:Young Adult
D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3; D007155:Immunologic Factors; D014801:Vitamin A; D016899:Interferon-beta