Vitamin D status and neuromyelitis optica spectrum disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis

source extracted confidence: high 2026-04-09
#neuromyelitis-optica #humans #vitamin-d #vitamin-d-deficiency

Vitamin D status and neuromyelitis optica spectrum disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Zhu et al., 2024 | Clin Neurol Neurosurg | Meta Analysis

Citation

Zhu Yunfei, Cao Shugang, ... Xue Qun. Vitamin D status and neuromyelitis optica spectrum disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Clin Neurol Neurosurg. 2024-Apr;239:108190. doi:10.1016/j.clineuro.2024.108190

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: There's an increasing body of evidence on vitamin D deficiency and the risk of neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD). The aim of this meta-analysis was to assess serum vitamin D levels in patients with NMOSD versus healthy controls. METHODS: We searched PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, Web of Science and CNKI for publications up to November 2022 and explored the relationship between NMOSD and serum vitamin D levels. The standardized mean differences (SMD) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated using a random-effects model. Subgroup analysis and sensitivity analysis were applied to explore the sources of heterogeneity. Begg's test, Egger's test, and Egger's funnel plot were adopted to evaluate publication bias. RESULTS: 6 studies (including 319 patients and 595 healthy controls) met the inclusion criteria and all compared vitamin D levels in patients with NMOSD versus healthy controls. Levels of serum vitamin D detected in NMOSD patients were significantly lower than those in healthy controls (SMD=-1.57, 95% CI=-2.27 ∼ -0.87, P<0.001, I2 = 94.6%). The results of the different sensitivity analysis remained statistically significant, which demonstrated the robustness of the meta-analysis. There was no significant publication bias in our meta-analysis (P>0.05). CONCLUSION: Patients with NMOSD showed significantly reduced vitamin D levels compared with healthy controls. Our findings highlighted the importance of measuring vitamin D levels in patients with NMOSD. Multi-center randomized controlled trials with large samples will further confirm whether the association is casual and modifiable.

Key Findings

6 studies (including 319 patients and 595 healthy controls) met the inclusion criteria and all compared vitamin D levels in patients with NMOSD versus healthy controls. Levels of serum vitamin D detected in NMOSD patients were significantly lower than those in healthy controls (SMD=-1.57, 95% CI=-2.27 ∼ -0.87, P<0.001, I2 = 94.6%). The results of the different sensitivity analysis remained statistically significant, which demonstrated the robustness of the meta-analysis. There was no significant

Outcomes Measured

  • Requires manual extraction

Population

Field Value
Population healthy controls
Sample Size 319
Age Range See abstract
Condition deficiency

MeSH Terms

  • Neuromyelitis Optica
  • Humans
  • Vitamin D
  • Vitamin D Deficiency

Evidence Classification

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

Provenance

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