title: The effect of vitamin D supplements on the severity of restless legs syndrome.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Clinical observation hinted improved symptoms of restless legs syndrome (RLS) after vitamin D supplements. Hence, the aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of vitamin D supplementation on the severity of RLS symptoms.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twelve adult subjects diagnosed with primary RLS and vitamin D deficiency were recruited. Patients with secondary RLS were excluded from this study. The complete cell count; serum levels of ferritin, iron, glycated hemoglobin, and vitamin D3 (25 (OH) vitamin D); and renal and bone profiles of the patients were assayed. Patients with vitamin D deficiency (<50 nmol/l) were treated with vitamin D3 supplements (high oral dose or intramuscular injection). The severity scores of RLS were reassessed after the vitamin D3 level was corrected to >50 nmol/l and compared with those before the administration of the supplements.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The median pretreatment vitamin D level was 21.7 nmol/l (13.45-57.4), which improved to 61.8 nmol/l (42.58-95.9) (P = 0.002) with the treatment. The median RLS severity score improved significantly from 26 (15-35) at baseline to 10 (0-27) after correction of the vitamin D levels (P = 0.002).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study indicates that vitamin D supplementation improves the severity of RLS symptoms and advocates that vitamin D deficiency is conceivably associated with RLS.
authors.affiliation: Sleep Medicine and Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, sowali@kau.edu.sa.
authors.forename: Siraj
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wali
authors.forename: Afnan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Shukr
authors.forename: Ayah
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Boudal
authors.forename: Ahmad
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Alsaiari
authors.forename: Ayman
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Krayem
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002762:Cholecalciferol / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood / Q000172:deficiency*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007273:Injections, Intramuscular; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012148:Restless Legs Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D002762:Cholecalciferol