Effect of cholecalciferol (vitamin D3) supplementation on relapses and disease progression in patients with multiple sclerosis: results from a clinical investigation
Abstract
158 patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (MS) were assessed. Patients received 4,000 IU/day of Aquadetrim®Vitaminum D3 in late fall and winter and 500-1500 IU/day in spring and summer, as monotherapy (n=32) or with disease modifying drugs (interferon beta or glatiramer acetate) (n=29). 22 patients received disease-modifying drugs only, while 75 patients with MS remained untreated (control). The results revealed a reduction in frequency of MS relapses by 21.2% of patients using vitamin D as add-on treatment to disease-modifying drugs (OR 0.38, 95% CI 0.146-1.006). No differences in changes in functional capacity measured by EDSS were observed between the study groups.