title: Impact of Vitamin A Supplementation on Disease Progression in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Many studies have shown that active vitamin A derivatives suppress the formation of pathogenic T cells in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. The aim of the present study is to determine the impact of vitamin A on disease progression in MS patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 101 relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS) patients were enrolled in a 1-year placebo-controlled randomized clinical trial. The treated group received 25000 IU/d retinyl palmitate for six month followed by 10000 IU/d retinyl palmitate for another six month. The results of the expanded disability status scale (EDSS) and multiple sclerosis functional composite (MSFC) were recorded at the beginning and the end of the study. The relapse rate was recorded during the intervention. Patients underwent baseline and follow up brain MRIs.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results showed "Mean ± SD" of MSFC changes in the treated group was (-0.14 ± 0.20) and in the placebo group was (-0.31 ± 0.19). MSFC was improved significantly (P < 0.001) in the treatment group. There were no significant differences between the "Mean ± SD" of EDSS changes in the treated (0.07 ± 0.23) and placebo (0.08 ± 0.23) groups (P = 0.73). There were also no significant differences between the "Mean ± SD" of annualized relapse rate in the treated group (-0.36 ± 0.56) and placebo (-0.53 ± 0.55) groups (P = 0.20). The "Mean ± SD" of enhanced lesions in the treatment (0.4 ± 1.0) and in the placebo (0.2 ± 0.6) groups were not significantly different (P = 0.26). Volume of T2 hyperintense lesions "Mean ± SD" was not significantly different between treatment (45 ± 137) and placebo (23 ± 112) groups after intervention (P = 0.23).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Vitamin A improved total MSFC score in RRMS patients, but it did not change EDSS, relapse rate and brain active lesions.
authors.affiliation: Iranian Center of Neurological Research, Neuroscience Institute, Imam Khomeini Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Sama
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bitarafan
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular and Cellular Nutrition, School of Nutrition and Dietetics, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Aliakbar
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Saboor-Yaraghi
authors.affiliation: Sina MS Research Center, Neuroscience Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Mohammad-Ali
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Sahraian
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Shariati Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Shahriar
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nafissi
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Sina Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Mansoureh
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Togha
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Imam Hossein Hospital, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Nahid
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Beladi Moghadam
authors.affiliation: Sina MS Research Center, Neuroscience Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Tina
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Roostaei
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Nutrition, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Fereydoun
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Siassi
authors.affiliation: Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Mohammad-Reza
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Eshraghian
authors.affiliation: Advanced Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology Research Center, Medical Imaging Center, Imam Khomeini Hospital, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Hossein
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ghanaati
authors.affiliation: Nutrition and Metabolic Disease Research Center, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran, Department of Nutrition, School of Paramedicine, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran.
authors.forename: Sima
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jafarirad
authors.affiliation: Advanced Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology Research Center, Medical Imaging Center, Imam Khomeini Hospital, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Behrouz
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Rafiei
authors.affiliation: Iranian Center of Neurological Research, Neuroscience Institute, Imam Khomeini Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. harirchm@sina.tums.ac.ir.
authors.forename: Mohammad-Hossein
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Harirchian
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D018450:Disease Progression; D004224:Diterpenes; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007492:Iran; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020529:Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000084562:Retinyl Esters; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D004224:Diterpenes; D000084562:Retinyl Esters; D014801:Vitamin A; C014794:retinol palmitate