Vitamin D supplementation fails to reduce multiple sclerosis activity after clinically isolated syndrome: Study

For this purpose, they conducted a double-blind trial in New Zealand and Australia. Eligible participants were randomized in a ratio of 1:1:1:1 to placebo, 1000, 5000, or 10,000 IU of oral vitamin D3 daily within each study centre (n=23) and were followed for up to 48 weeks. Two hundred and four participants were enrolled between 2013 and 2021. Brain MRI scans were performed at baseline, 24 and 48 weeks.

The main outcome was conversion to clinically definite multiple sclerosis based on the 2010 McDonald criteria defined as either a clinical relapse or new brain MRI T2 lesion development.

The study led to the following findings:

• 199 cases were included in the intention-to-treat analysis based on the assigned dose. Of these, 116 converted to multiple sclerosis by 48 weeks (58%).
• Compared to placebo, the HRs for conversion were 1000 IU 0.87; 5000 IU 1.37; and 10 000 IU 1.28.
• In an adjusted model including sex, age, study centre, latitude, baseline symptom number, clinically isolated syndrome onset site, presence of infratentorial lesions, and steroids use, the HRs (versus placebo) were 1000 IU 0.80; 5000 IU 1.36; 10 000 IU 1.07.
• Vitamin D3 supplementation was safe and well tolerated.

"We did not demonstrate a reduction in MS disease activity by vitamin D3 supplementation after a high-risk clinically isolated syndrome," the researchers concluded.

Reference:

Butzkueven, H., Ponsonby, A., Stein, M. S., Lucas, R. M., Mason, D., Broadley, S., Kilpatrick, T., Barnett, M., Carroll, W., Mitchell, P., Hardy, T. A., Macdonell, R., McCombe, P., Lee, A., Kalincik, T., Lynch, C., Abernethy, D., Willoughby, E., Barkhof, F., . . . Investigators, P. Vitamin D did not reduce multiple sclerosis disease activity after a clinically isolated syndrome. Brain. https://doi.org/10.1093/brain/awad409