Vitamin D Levels and Visual System Measurements in Progressive Multiple Sclerosis: A Cross-sectional Study.

BACKGROUND

Vitamin D deficiency is associated with increased disease activity in multiple sclerosis (MS), but its role in progressive MS has not been elucidated. The objective was to determine the correlation between vitamin D levels and visual parameters in primary progressive MS (PPMS) and secondary progressive MS (SPMS).

METHODS

Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25[OH]D) and 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25[OH]D) levels were obtained from the Secondary and Primary Progressive Ibudilast NeuroNEXT Trial in MS (SPRINT-MS). Visual function measurements and vitamin D associations were determined using the Pearson correlation and the generalized linear mixed model.

RESULTS

The analysis included 258 patients (mean ± SD age of 55.6 ± 7.3 years, 52.7% female, and 52.3% PPMS). Mean vitamin D values were above sufficiency and were similar between PPMS and SPMS ( = .47 and = .31). There was no association between 25(OH)D levels and any visual markers, including peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer thickness (Spearman = -0.08), macular volume ( = -0.03), ganglion cell-inner plexiform layer ( = -0.07), and 2.5% low-contrast visual acuity test ( = -0.10). No statistically significant associations between vitamin D levels and visual system measurements were detected in the PPMS and SPMS subgroups.

CONCLUSIONS

Vitamin D levels were not associated with optical coherence tomography findings or low-contrast letter acuity in this group of patients with progressive MS.