Journal article

Higher 25-hydroxyvitamin D is associated with lower relapse risk in multiple sclerosis

S Simpson, B Taylor, L Blizzard, AL Ponsonby, F Pittas, H Tremlett, T Dwyer, P Gies, I Van Der Mei

Annals of Neurology | WILEY | Published : 2010

Abstract

Objective: A protective association between higher vitamin D levels and the onset of multiple sclerosis (MS) has been demonstrated; however, its role in modulating MS clinical course has been little studied. We investigated whether higher levels of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-OH-D) were associated with a lower risk of relapses in people with MS. Methods: We conducted a prospective cohort study of 145 participants with relapsing-remitting MS from 2002 to 2005. Serum 25-OH-D levels were measured biannually, and the hazard of relapse was assessed using survival analysis. Results: There was an inverse linear relationship between 25-OH-D levels and the hazard of relapse over the subsequent 6 mo..

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Grants

Awarded by National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia


Awarded by Academy of Finland (AKA)


Funding Acknowledgements

The Multiple Sclerosis Longitudinal Study was funded by a grant from the National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia (Project 211308, Principal investigators: T.D., A-L.P., B.T., P.G.). Additional funding for 25-OH-D measures was provided by the Trish Foundation (Principal investigators: T.D., A-L.P., B.T.).