The influence of Vitamin D supplementation on Th-17 cell activity in patients with Multiple Sclerosis
DanielGolan
Published February 25, 2016
We read with interest the article by Sotirchos et al. in which the authors reported a statistically significant reduction in the proportion of IL-17+CD4+T cells after 6 months of 10,400 IU daily vitamin D supplementation among 19 patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). This change was not apparent in the 21 patient control group, who received 800 IU of daily vitamin D. [1] This report supports our prior, similarly designed study. [2]
In a randomized, double-blind clinical trial we found a statistically significant increase in serum IL-17 after 3 month of 800 IU daily vitamin D supplementation to 21 patients with MS, while serum IL-17 response to 4,370 IU of daily vitamin D was nonhomogenous: 8 patients (40%) had decreased serum IL-17 levels after 3 months; 9 patients (45%) had increased IL-17 levels; 3 patients (15%) had IL-17 levels below the detection threshold at both time points. [2] Taken together, both studies [1,2] demonstrated that high dose vitamin D is safe and may abrogate Th-17 cell activity in patients with MS. Notably, in an additional study, we found that some effects attributed to vitamin D may be related to another light-dependent factor: Melatonin. [3]
1. Sotirchos ES, Bhargava P, Eckstein C, et al. Safety and immunologic effects of high- vs low-dose cholecalciferol in multiple sclerosis. Neurology 2016;86:382-390.
2. Golan D, Halhal B, Glass-Marmor L, et al. Vitamin D supplementation for patients with multiple sclerosis treated with interferon-beta: a randomized controlled trial assessing the effect on flu-like symptoms and immunomodulatory properties. BMC Neurol 2013;13:60.
3. Golan D, Staun-Ram E, Glass-Marmor L, et al. The influence of vitamin D supplementation on melatonin status in patients with multiple sclerosis. Brain Behav Immun 2013;32:180-185.
For disclosures, please contact the editorial office at journal@neurology.org.
We read with interest the article by Sotirchos et al. in which the authors reported a statistically significant reduction in the proportion of IL-17+CD4+T cells after 6 months of 10,400 IU daily vitamin D supplementation among 19 patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). This change was not apparent in the 21 patient control group, who received 800 IU of daily vitamin D. [1] This report supports our prior, similarly designed study. [2]
In a randomized, double-blind clinical trial we found a statistically significant increase in serum IL-17 after 3 month of 800 IU daily vitamin D supplementation to 21 patients with MS, while serum IL-17 response to 4,370 IU of daily vitamin D was nonhomogenous: 8 patients (40%) had decreased serum IL-17 levels after 3 months; 9 patients (45%) had increased IL-17 levels; 3 patients (15%) had IL-17 levels below the detection threshold at both time points. [2] Taken together, both studies [1,2] demonstrated that high dose vitamin D is safe and may abrogate Th-17 cell activity in patients with MS. Notably, in an additional study, we found that some effects attributed to vitamin D may be related to another light-dependent factor: Melatonin. [3]
1. Sotirchos ES, Bhargava P, Eckstein C, et al. Safety and immunologic effects of high- vs low-dose cholecalciferol in multiple sclerosis. Neurology 2016;86:382-390.
2. Golan D, Halhal B, Glass-Marmor L, et al. Vitamin D supplementation for patients with multiple sclerosis treated with interferon-beta: a randomized controlled trial assessing the effect on flu-like symptoms and immunomodulatory properties. BMC Neurol 2013;13:60.
3. Golan D, Staun-Ram E, Glass-Marmor L, et al. The influence of vitamin D supplementation on melatonin status in patients with multiple sclerosis. Brain Behav Immun 2013;32:180-185.
For disclosures, please contact the editorial office at journal@neurology.org.