Cytokine profile in patients with multiple sclerosis following vitamin D supplementation

Multiple sclerosis (MS) patients were randomized, in a double blind design, and placed into either a vitamin D supplemented group or a placebo control group. As expected, serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels increased significantly following 6 month vitamin D supplementation (17±6 ng/ml at baseline to 28±8 ng/ml at 6 months). Vitamin D supplementation also significantly increased serum transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1 levels from 230±21 pg/ml at baseline to 295±40 pg/ml 6 months later. Placebo treatment had no effect on serum TGF-β1 levels. Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interferon (IFN)-γ, and interleukin (IL)-13 were not different following vitamin D supplementation. IL-2 mRNA levels decreased following vitamin D supplementation but the differences did not reach significance. Vitamin D supplementation of MS patients for 6 months was associated with increased vitamin D status and serum TGF-β1.