title: Hypovitaminosis D association with disease activity in relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis in Brazil.
abstract: Multiple sclerosis (MS) onset is believed to result from a combination of environmental and genetic factors. A prevailing theory addresses the influence of hypovitaminosis D in the development of MS. This research aimed to study the association between vitamin D serum levels and MS, as a prognostic and risk factor for the development and progression of the disease. A cross-sectional multicenter study was conducted in patients with relapsing-remitting MS (n=67), according to the revised McDonald criteria (2010), accompanied in three MS centers in different Brazilian states. A control group consisted of healthy volunteers (n=61). Blood collections were carried out in late summer and late winter. This seems to be the first study of this kind in Latin America. The vitamin D serum levels for MS patients (29.63±8.08) in summer were similar to the controls (29.71±8.28); however, in winter they were lower than the healthy individuals (24.05±7.47 vs 26.56±8.01). No significant difference between the three cities was observed. No association was noted between vitamin D serum levels and gender, race and age, nor correlation of these levels with the EDSS or disease duration. In contrast, a significant association was seen between deficient vitamin D serum levels in late winter with disease activity, characterized by the onset of relapses (19.73±5.69 vs 25.30±6.22) or Gd+ lesions (17.22±3.11 vs 22.79±7.22).
authors.affiliation: Neuroimmunology Program, Hospital São Lucas, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul (PUCRS), Brazil. Electronic address: jefferson.becker@pucrs.br.
authors.forename: Jefferson
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Becker
authors.affiliation: Multiple Sclerosis Outpatient Clinic, Hospital das Clínicas, University of São Paulo (USP), Brazil.
authors.forename: Dagoberto
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Callegaro
authors.affiliation: Multiple Sclerosis Research Center (CIEM), Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG), Brazil.
authors.forename: Marco Aurélio
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Lana-Peixoto
authors.affiliation: Multiple Sclerosis Research Center (CIEM), Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG), Brazil.
authors.forename: Natália
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Talim
authors.affiliation: Neuroimmunology Program, Hospital São Lucas, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul (PUCRS), Brazil.
authors.forename: Tamara
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Vidaletti
authors.affiliation: Natural Resources Institute, Federal University of Itajubá (Unifei), Brazil.
authors.forename: Marcelo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: de Paula Corrêa
authors.affiliation: Neuroimmunology Program, Hospital São Lucas, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul (PUCRS), Brazil.
authors.forename: Irenio
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Gomes
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020529:Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012621:Seasons; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000097:blood; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D014807:Vitamin D
keywords: Demyelinating inflammatory disease; Hypovitaminosis; MS epidemiology; Multiple sclerosis; Risk factor; Vitamin D