title: Is serum vitamin D levels associated with disability in patients with newly diagnosed multiple sclerosis?
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.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings did not suggest a protective association for serum vitamin D levels against disability in MS patients.
authors.affiliation: Associate Professor, Department of Neurology, Poursina Hospital, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran.
authors.forename: Hamidreza
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hatamian
authors.forename: Elham
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bidabadi
authors.forename: Seyed Mohammad
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Seyed Saadat
authors.forename: Niloufar Seyed
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Saadat
authors.forename: Ehsan
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kazemnezhad
authors.forename: Hamed
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ramezani
authors.forename: Babak
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bakhshayesh
keywords: 25-hydroxyvitamin D; Deficiency; Multiple Sclerosis; Vitamin D