Vitamin D in African Americans with multiple sclerosis.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

To evaluate whether vitamin D is associated with multiple sclerosis (MS) status and disease severity in African Americans.

Methods

Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D was compared in a cross-sectional sample of 339 African Americans with MS and 342 African American controls. Correlations between disease severity (Multiple Sclerosis Severity Score [MSSS]) and 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels were sought.

Results

A total of 71% of controls and 77% of patients with MS were vitamin D deficient (<50 nmol/L; <20 ng/mL), and 93% of controls and 94% of patients with MS were vitamin D insufficient (<75 nmol/L; <30 ng/mL). Median unadjusted (29.7 vs 36.6 nmol/L, p = 0.0001) and deseasonalized (p = 0.0013) 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels were lower in the MS group. Multivariable analysis r

SUBMITTER: Gelfand JM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3100123 | biostudies-literature | 2011 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature