Vitamin D and multiple sclerosis].

Beatriz Pozuelo-Moyano, Julián Benito-León

Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre, Madrid, Espana.

Revista de neurologia 2013 Feb 16

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The main effects of vitamin D have to do with the homeostasis of calcium and phosphorous, and also with the regulation of bone remodelling. Yet, in recent years, different lines of research have given rise to a large body of knowledge about its role in the pathogenesis and the treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS). AIM. To carry out a critical review of the evidence that relates vitamin D with MS from an epidemiological, genetic, immunological and therapeutic point of view. The work includes an update of the most significant studies that have analysed the role played by vitamin D in the pathogenesis and the treatment of MS. In order to explore the association between concentrations of vitamin D and the risk of MS, the authors examined the available evidence, which included both observation-based studies and intervention studies. Observation-based studies have shown a consistent inverse relationship between concentrations of vitamin D and the risk of MS. The intervention studies (basically randomised double-blind placebo-controlled trials), however, offer data that are not conclusive. The current context opens up the possibility of conducting prospective and intervention-based studies in the future that will settle the nature of this association in a more convincing manner.