title: No correlation was observed between vitamin D levels and disability of patients with multiple sclerosis between latitudes 18° and 30° South.
abstract: Vitamin D has taken center stage in research and treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS). The objective of the present study was to assess the serum vitamin D levels of a large population of patients with MS and controls living in a restricted tropical area.
  
  
  
  Data from 535 patients with MS and 350 control subjects were obtained from 14 cities around the Tropic of Capricorn.
  
  
  
  The mean serum 25-OH vitamin D level was 26.07 ± 10.27 ng/mL for the control subjects, and 28.03 ± 12.19 ng/mL for patients with MS. No correlation was observed between vitamin D levels and the disability of patients over the disease duration.
  
  
  
  At least for the region around the Tropic of Capricorn, serum levels of vitamin D typically are within the range of 20 to 30 ng/mL for controls and patients with MS.
authors.affiliation: Universidade Metropolitana de Santos, Departamento de Neurologia, Santos SP, Brasil.
authors.forename: Yara Dadalti
authors.initials: YD
authors.lastname: Fragoso
authors.affiliation: Hospital Sírio Libanes, Departamento de Neurologia, São Paulo, SP, Brasil.
authors.forename: Tarso
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Adoni
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Departamento de Neurologia, Rio de Janeiro RJ, Brasil.
authors.forename: Soniza Vieira
authors.initials: SV
authors.lastname: Alves-Leon
authors.affiliation: Universidade de São Paulo, Departamento de Neurologia, São Paulo SP, Brasil.
authors.forename: Samira L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Apostolos-Pereira
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal do Paraná, Departamento de Neurologia, Curitiba PR, Brasil.
authors.forename: Walter Oleschko
authors.initials: WO
authors.lastname: Arruda
authors.affiliation: Universidade Metropolitana de Santos, Departamento de Neurologia, Santos SP, Brasil.
authors.forename: Joseph B Bidin
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Brooks
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Neurologia, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Niterói RJ, Brasil.
authors.forename: Henrique S Rodrigues
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Cal
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora, Departamento de Neurologia, Juiz de Fora MG, Brasil.
authors.forename: Carlos A Albuquerque
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Damasceno
authors.affiliation: Pontifícia Universidade Católica, Departamento de Neurologia, Sorocaba SP, Brasil.
authors.forename: Paulo Diniz
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Gama
authors.affiliation: Centro Hospitalar Unimed, Departamento de Neurologia, Joinville SC, Brasil.
authors.forename: Marcus V Magno
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Goncalves
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Departamento de Neurologia, São Paulo SP, Brasil.
authors.forename: Carlos A da Silva de
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Jesus
authors.affiliation: Hospital de Caridade, Departamento de Neurologia, Florianópolis SC, Brasil.
authors.forename: Suzana C Nunes
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Machado
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Departamento de Neurologia, Rio de Janeiro RJ, Brasil.
authors.forename: Letícia Fezer
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Mansur
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Neurologia, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Niterói RJ, Brasil.
authors.forename: Andre P da Cunha
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Matta
authors.affiliation: Clínica Neurológica São Paulo, Departamento de Neurologia, São Paulo SP, Brasil.
authors.forename: Maria Fernanda
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Mendes
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, Departamento de Neurologia, Uberlândia MG, Brasil.
authors.forename: Rogerio Rizo
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Morales
authors.affiliation: Hospital de Caridade, Departamento de Neurologia, Florianópolis SC, Brasil.
authors.forename: Adaucto Wanderley da
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Nobrega
authors.affiliation: Clínica Neurológica Curitiba, Departamento de Neurologia, Curitiba PR, Brasil.
authors.forename: Monica K Fiuza
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Parolin
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Departamento de Neurologia, São Paulo SP, Brasil.
authors.forename: Mario Pietro
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Peres
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal de Ciências da Saúde de Porto Alegre, Departamento de Neurologia, Porto Alegre RS, Brasil.
authors.forename: Marlise de Castro
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Ribeiro
authors.affiliation: Universidade de Jundiaí, Departamento de Neurologia, Jundiaí SP, Brasil.
authors.forename: Heloisa Helena
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Ruocco
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Departamento de Neurologia, Rio de Janeiro RJ, Brasil.
authors.forename: Simone
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Scherpenhuijzen
authors.affiliation: Universidade Regional de Blumenau, Departamento de Neurologia, Blumenau SC, Brasil.
authors.forename: Fabio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Siquinelli
authors.affiliation: University of Aberdeen, Institute of Medical Sciences, Scotland, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Patrick N
authors.initials: PN
authors.lastname: Stoney
authors.affiliation: Serviço de Neurologia e Neurocirurgia de Passo Fundo, Departamento de Neurologia, Passo Fundo RS, Brasil.
authors.forename: Daniel Lima
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Varela
authors.affiliation: Centro Hospitalar Unimed, Departamento de Neurologia, Joinville SC, Brasil.
authors.forename: Audred Cristina Biondo
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Eboni
authors.affiliation: Universidade Metropolitana de Santos, Departamento de Neurologia, Santos SP, Brasil.
authors.forename: Caroline Vieira
authors.initials: CV
authors.lastname: Spessotto
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora, Departamento de Neurologia, Juiz de Fora MG, Brasil.
authors.forename: Elisa Teixeira da
authors.initials: ET
authors.lastname: Rocha
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora, Departamento de Neurologia, Juiz de Fora MG, Brasil.
authors.forename: Pamela Emanuele
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Lacerda
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001938:Brazil; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D062306:Geography, Medical; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000097:blood*; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications
chemical_list: D014807:Vitamin D