Vitamin D status and the risk of multiple sclerosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Duan et al., 2014 | Neurosci Lett | Meta Analysis

Citation

Duan Shurong, Lv Zheng, ... Bi Sheng. Vitamin D status and the risk of multiple sclerosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Neurosci Lett. 2014-Jun-06;570:108-13. doi:10.1016/j.neulet.2014.04.021

Abstract

To estimate the associations between vitamin D status and multiple sclerosis (MS). We searched electronic databases of the human literature in PubMed, EMBASE and the Cochrane Library up to February, 2014 using the following keywords: 'vitamin D' or '25(OH)D' and 'status' or 'deficiency' or 'insufficiency' and 'multiple sclerosis'. A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted on observational studies that reported the association between blood vitamin D levels and MS. Eleven studies met the inclusion criteria. 1007 patients and 829 controls were included. Results of our meta-analysis show that MS patients had lower mean levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] than healthy controls (weighted mean difference[MD], -14.52, 95% confidence interval [CI], -23.83 to -5.22). There were statistically significant heterogeneity (P<0.00001; I(2)=92%). The significant heterogeneity may be due to the differences in ethnicity, country, season of blood sampling and age of the participants studied. To sum up, low vitamin D levels are associated with an increased risk of MS.

Key Findings

To sum up, low vitamin D levels are associated with an increased risk of MS.

Outcomes Measured

  • Requires manual extraction

Population

Field Value
Population See abstract
Sample Size 1007
Age Range See abstract
Condition deficiency

MeSH Terms

  • Humans
  • Multiple Sclerosis
  • Prospective Studies
  • Risk Assessment
  • Vitamin D

Evidence Classification

  • Level: Meta Analysis
  • Publication Types: Journal Article, Meta-Analysis, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't, Systematic Review
  • Vertical: vitamin-d-autoimmune

Provenance


Source extracted via PubMed E-utilities API on 2026-04-09