Association Between Serum Vitamin D Levels and Frequency of Relapses in Patients With Multiple Sclerosis

Radiological Association Between Multiple Sclerosis Lesions and Serum Vitamin D Levels

INTRODUCTION

The primary aim of this study was to determine a plausible association between the radiological location of multiple sclerosis (MS) lesions and serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (vitamin D) levels at the time of diagnosis. MS is a common immune-mediated neurological condition mainly affecting the central nervous system. Although the association of vitamin D levels is well established, there have not been many studies to propose a connection between the location of the lesions based on serum vitamin D levels. In this study, we determine the association between serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D and the radiological distribution of lesions in patients with MS.

METHODS

Twenty patients with a confirmed diagnosis of MS involving new T2-weighted and gadolinium-enhancing T1-weighted lesions in the entire central nervous system (brain and spinal cord) with serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels at the time of diagnosis were included in a case group. As a reference, 20 patients with a confirmed diagnosis of MS with isolated new T2-weighted and gadolinium-enhancing T1-weighted lesions (either supratentorial, infratentorial, or spinal cord) with serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels at the time of diagnosis were included in the control group.

RESULTS

The mean serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D level was significantly low in the case group compared to the control group (36.2 ± 17.2 vs 62.6 ± 21.0; p-value <0.0001).

CONCLUSION

There is a plausible inverse relationship between serum vitamin D and the MS lesions involving the entire central nervous system (brain and spinal cord). This evidence may enable clinicians to forecast disease load based on serum vitamin D levels.

Association of vitamin D receptor gene haplotypes with late‑onset Alzheimer's disease in a Southeastern European Caucasian population

Vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) have been investigated over the past years with the aim of identifying any association with the development of Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, information regarding the potential association of VDR SNP haplotypes with AD is limited. The aim of the present study was to provide additional knowledge on the effects of VDR haplotypes on the development of late-onset AD in a cohort of Southeastern European Caucasians (SECs). The study sample included 78 patients with late-onset AD and 103 healthy subjects as the control group. VDR SNPs that were analyzed were TaqI (rs731236), BsmI (rs1544410) and FokI (rs2228570). The CAC (TaqI, BsmI and FokI) haplotype was found to be associated with a 53% lower risk of developing the disease (OR, 0.47; 95% CI, 0.23-0.96; P=0.04) and the TAC (TaqI, BsmI and FokI) haplotype was associated with an ~6-fold greater risk of developing AD (OR, 6.19; 95% CI, 1.91-20.13; P=0.0028). Female subjects carrying the TAC haplotype had a ~9-fold greater risk of developing AD in comparison to female control subjects (OR, 9.27; 95% CI, 1.86-46.28; P<0.05). The TaqI and BsmI polymorphisms were in high linkage disequilibrium (D'=0.9717, r=0.8467) and produced a haplotype with a statistically significant different frequency between the control and AD group. The TA (TaqI and BsmI) haplotype was associated with an ~8-fold greater risk of developing AD (OR, 8.27; 95% CI, 2.70-25.28; P<0.05). Female TA carriers had an ~14-fold greater risk of developing the disease in comparison to female control subjects (OR, 13.93; 95% CI, 2.95-65.87; P<0.05). On the whole, the present study demonstrates that in the SEC population, TAC and TA are risk haplotypes for AD, while the CAC haplotype may act protectively. SEC women carrying the TAC or TA haplotype are at a greater risk of developing AD, thus suggesting that women are markedly affected by the poor utilization of vitamin D induced by the VDR haplotype.

Response of Helicobacter Pylori Eradication Treatment in Patients With Normal and Below-Normal Serum Vitamin D Levels

Introduction

 The infection of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is affected by the host immune system and the genetic makeup. It is postulated that deficiency of vitamin D may interfere in normal immunological response to infectious agents, including H. pylori, and increase the risk of infection. This study aims to find the relationship between vitamin D status in the body and patient’s response to H. pylori eradication treatment.

Methods

 One hundred and fifty patients (n = 150) between the ages of 18 and 60 years of either gender, diagnosed with H. pylori, were included in the study. After enrollment, patients were started on first-line eradication therapy, which included omeprazole, amoxicillin, and clarithromycin for 14 days. Patient’s vitamin D levels were tested via laboratory. After 14 days, patients' stools were tested for presence of H. pylori antigen. 

Results

 A total of 128 participants completed the study, out of which 92 (71.8%) participants showed no H. pylori antigen in stool after 14 days and 36 (28.1%) participants still showed H. pylori in their stool. The mean serum vitamin D level was significantly higher in participants who had successful treatment compared to those who had unsuccessful treatment (31.01 ± 7.8 ng/mL vs. 18.9 ± 5.6 ng/mL; p-value < 0.0001).

Conclusion

 Vitamin D levels may affect the response of H. pylori eradication therapy. Further large-scale studies are needed in which vitamin D is given as an intervention to further study the association between vitamin D levels and H. pylori treatment response.