Remote testing of vitamin D levels across the UK MS population-A case control study.

oleh: Nicola Vickaryous, Mark Jitlal, Benjamin Meir Jacobs, Rod Middleton, Siddharthan Chandran, Niall John James MacDougall, Gavin Giovannoni, Ruth Dobson

Format: Article
Diterbitkan: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2020-01-01

Deskripsi

<h4>Objective</h4>The association between vitamin D deficiency and multiple sclerosis (MS) is well described. We set out to use remote sampling to ascertain vitamin D status and vitamin D supplementation in a cross-sectional study of people with MS across the UK.<h4>Methods</h4>People with MS and matched controls were recruited from across the UK. 1768 people with MS enrolled in the study; remote sampling kits were distributed to a subgroup. Dried blood spots (DBS) were used to assess serum 25(OH)D in people with MS and controls.<h4>Results</h4>1768 MS participants completed the questionnaire; 388 MS participants and 309 controls provided biological samples. Serum 25(OH)D was higher in MS than controls (median 71nmol/L vs 49nmol/L). A higher proportion of MS participants than controls supplemented (72% vs 26%, p<0.001); people with MS supplemented at higher vD doses than controls (median 1600 vs 600 IU/day, p<0.001). People with MS who did not supplement had lower serum 25(OH)D levels than non-supplementing controls (median 38 nmol/L vs 44 nmol/L). Participants engaged well with remote sampling.<h4>Conclusions</h4>The UK MS population have higher serum 25(OH)D than controls, mainly as a result of vitamin D supplementation. Remote sampling is a feasible way of carrying out large studies.