title: Short-term effect of high-dose vitamin D on the level of interleukin 10 in patients with multiple sclerosis: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic demyelinating disease of the central nervous system. Vitamin D has been related to the prevention of MS and to modulating its course. Recent studies have shown the safety of high-dose vitamin D in MS.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study compared the effects of high-dose vitamin D on interleukin 10 (IL-10) levels in MS patients in a double-blind, randomized clinical trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ninety-four patients with relapsing remitting MS (RRMS) were randomized into a treatment and a placebo group. Both groups received conventional MS treatment. The intervention group received 50,000 IU of vitamin D every 5 days for 3 months. IL-10 was measured at baseline and after 3 months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Serum levels of IL-10 were (median ± IQR): 12.58 ± 11.97 and 10.97 ± 9.97 pg/ml in the intervention and placebo groups, respectively, at baseline (p = 0.161); after 3 months, these levels were 13.76 ± 18.95 and 11.31 ± 19.63 pg/ml, respectively (p = 0.158). The IL-10 level increased significantly after receiving high-dose vitamin D for 3 months (β = 0.737, p = 0.015 and R2 = 0.91).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  IL-10 levels increased significantly in RRMS patients after taking high-dose vitamin D3 for 3 months. High-dose vitamin D might be useful in promoting an anti-inflammatory state in RRMS patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: Fereshteh
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ashtari
authors.forename: Nafiseh
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Toghianifar
authors.forename: Sayyed Hamid
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Zarkesh-Esfahani
authors.forename: Marjan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mansourian
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002118:Calcium / Q000097:blood; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000097:blood* / Q000178:diet therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014815:Vitamins / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D014815:Vitamins; D016753:Interleukin-10; D014807:Vitamin D; D002118:Calcium