Article 07: Cytokine Profile in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis Following Vitamin D Supplementation

Mahon BD, Gordon SA, Cruz J, Cosman F, Cantorna MT

Graduate Program in Nutrition, Pennsylvania State University, 16802, University Park, PA, USA

ABSTRACT Multiple sclerosis (MS) patients were randomized, in a double blind design, and placed into either a vitamin D supplemented group or a placebo control group. As expected, serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels increased significantly following 6 month vitamin D supplementation (17+/-6 ng/ml at baseline to 28+/-8 ng/ml at 6 months). Vitamin D supplementation also significantly increased serum transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta1 levels from 230+/-21 pg/ml at baseline to 295+/-40 pg/ml 6 months later. Placebo treatment had no effect on serum TGF-beta1 levels. Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, interferon (IFN)-gamma, and interleukin (IL)-13 were not different following vitamin D supplementation. IL-2 mRNA levels decreased following vitamin D supplementation but the differences did not reach significance. Vitamin D supplementation of MS patients for 6 months was associated with increased vitamin D status and serum TGF-beta1.

Message to Ashton Embry, dated 14th January, 2003

Ashton

Any chance you can get hold of the full article?

Andrew

Response from Ashton Embry, dated 15th January, 2003

Andrew, I emailed the author a few days ago requesting a PDF but no response so far. I think the abstract tells the story and it basically says vitamin D helps down-regulate the inflammatory side of the immune system. Here is another article on vitamin D supplementation. The Heaney et al paper helps one to understand how vitamin D intake translates to 25D levels.

Ashton