Study: High-dose vitamin D is safe for MS

[kw202]

Safety and immunologic effects of high- vs low-dose cholecalciferol in multiple sclerosis
Elias S. Sotirchos, MD*, Pavan Bhargava, MD*, Christopher Eckstein, MD, Keith Van Haren, MD, Moira Baynes, RN, Achilles Ntranos, MD, Anne Gocke, PhD, Lawrence Steinman, MD, Ellen M. Mowry, MD, MCR and Peter A. Calabresi, MD
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Correspondence to Dr. Calabresi: calabresi@jhmi.edu
Published online before print December 30, 2015, doi: http:/​/​dx.​doi.​org/​10.​1212/​WNL.​0000000000002316
Neurology 10.1212/WNL.0000000000002316
AbstractFull Text (PDF)
Also available: Data Supplement
ABSTRACT

Objective: To study the safety profile and characterize the immunologic effects of high- vs low-dose cholecalciferol supplementation in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS).

Methods: In this double-blind, single-center randomized pilot study, 40 patients with relapsing-remitting MS were randomized to receive 10,400 IU or 800 IU cholecalciferol daily for 6 months. Assessments were performed at baseline and 3 and 6 months.

Results: Mean increase of 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels from baseline to final visit was larger in the high-dose group (34.9 ng/mL; 95% confidence interval [CI] 25.0–44.7 ng/mL) than in the low-dose group (6.9 ng/mL; 95% CI 1.0–13.7 ng/mL). Adverse events were minor and did not differ between the 2 groups. Two relapses occurred, one in each treatment arm. In the high-dose group, we found a reduction in the proportion of interleukin-17+CD4+ T cells (p = 0.016), CD161+CD4+ T cells (p = 0.03), and effector memory CD4+ T cells (p = 0.021) with a concomitant increase in the proportion of central memory CD4+ T cells (p = 0.018) and naive CD4+ T cells (p = 0.04). These effects were not observed in the low-dose group.

Conclusions: Cholecalciferol supplementation with 10,400 IU daily is safe and tolerable in patients with MS and exhibits in vivo pleiotropic immunomodulatory effects in MS, which include reduction of interleukin-17 production by CD4+ T cells and decreased proportion of effector memory CD4+ T cells with concomitant increase in central memory CD4+ T cells and naive CD4+ T cells.

Classification of evidence: This study provides Class I evidence that cholecalciferol supplementation with 10,400 IU daily is safe and well-tolerated in patients with MS and exhibits in vivo pleiotropic immunomodulatory effects.

http://www.neurology.org/content/early/ ... hort?rss=1

[jimmylegs]

caveat: note the 6 month duration

"Forty patients were randomized to receive 10,000 IU or 400 IU of cholecalciferol (Continental Vitamin Company, Vernon, CA) daily for 6 months. In addition, all study participants received a daily multivitamin (LuckyVitamin, Conshohocken, PA) including 400 IU cholecalciferol and 1,000 mg calcium"

(from the looks of it that luckyvitamin product delivers 50mg mag oxide. that's about what i was doing over the years of high dose d3 it took me to slowly and decidedly hit the wall - no fun!)

[kw202]

caveat: note the 6 month duration

"Forty patients were randomized to receive 10,000 IU or 400 IU of cholecalciferol (Continental Vitamin Company, Vernon, CA) daily for 6 months. In addition, all study participants received a daily multivitamin (LuckyVitamin, Conshohocken, PA) including 400 IU cholecalciferol and 1,000 mg calcium"

(from the looks of it that luckyvitamin product delivers 50mg mag oxide. that's about what i was doing over the years of high dose d3 it took me to slowly and decidedly hit the wall - no fun!)

All good points! Caveat emptor!