CC16
Optimal Vitamin D Dosage in Multiple Sclerosis Patients with Vitamin D Deficiency
There is a growing body of research that suggests a link between Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and Vitamin D deficiency. This link was first suggested by epidemiological studies that demonstrated that countries farther from the equator have a higher incidence of MS. Researchers postulated that this was due to lower Vitamin D levels resulting from decreased sun exposure. Subsequent clinical studies have demonstrated that people with lower serum Vitamin D levels have a higher risk of developing MS and also experience a faster rate of disease progression. In response to this growing body of literature, clinicians have begun supplementing their MS patients with Vitamin D. However, there are currently no standard guidelines dictating the appropriate dosage or dosing interval for Vitamin D supplementation in MS patients with Vitamin D deficiency. Two of the most widely used dosing regimens are 5,000 IU of Vitamin D daily and 50,000 IU of Vitamin D weekly. Our study seeks to compare the efficacy of these two dosing regimens.
Objectives:
Our study seeks to determine which dosing regimen; 5,000 IU daily or 50,000 IU weekly, is more effective at raising serum Vitamin D levels in patients with MS who are Vitamin D deficient. We also examine the factors influencing compliance in MS patients taking Vitamin D supplementation.
Methods:
We recruited 40 MS patients with Vitamin D deficiency, which we defined as one serum Vitamin D level < 30 ng/ml. We then randomized these patients to receive 5,000 IU daily of Vitamin D or 50,000 IU weekly of Vitamin D. We sent out blood tests at 3 months to measure the change in serum Vitamin D levels after supplementation and compared the two groups. We also conducted phone interviews with the patients after 6 months with a standardized questionnaire to gather data on medication compliance.
Results:
The study is still ongoing and we expect to have the final results with two months.
Conclusions:
The study is still ongoing and we expect to have the final results with two months.