J Neuroimmunol 2003 Jan;134(1-2):128-32
Mahon BD, Gordon SA, Cruz J, Cosman F, Cantorna MT.
Graduate Program in Nutrition, Pennsylvania State University, 16802,
University Park, PA, USA
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.