The Association of Vitamin D Receptor Polymorphisms with Multiple Sclerosis in a Case-Control Study from Kuwait.

Vitamin D deficiency is associated with several diseases including multiple sclerosis (MS). Several factors influence vitamin D levels and its optimal multi-function maintenance. Our objective was to assess quantifiable variables influencing vitamin D level and metabolism in MS patients from Kuwait. In a case-control study involving 50 MS patients, and 50 healthy control individuals for which plasma vitamin D levels, supplement use, vitamin D receptor (VDR) variants, and skin pigmentation indices were ascertained; we found overall vitamin D levels to be deficient in both groups, and supplement use to be common practice. VDR variants TaqI and BsmI associated with MS risk, and ApaI associated with low disease progression. VDR variant FokI associated with higher vitamin D levels in both groups. We conclude that several quantifiable variables related to vitamin D associate with MS suggesting a possible clinical immuno-modulatory application of vitamin D for MS patients in Kuwait

Cohorts’ demographics, clinical characteristics and vitamin D levels and supplement use.

<p>Cohorts’ demographics, clinical characteristics and vitamin D levels and supplement use.</p

Skin pigmentation measurements from our study cohorts included constitutive melanin and erythema, and facultative melanin and erythema indices.

<p>*Denotes significant difference of p-value <0.05.</p><p>Difference in melanin indices were used to estimate sun exposure, and difference in erythema to determine skin sensitivity to sun burns.</p

<i>VDR</i> SNPs genotype distributions in our study cohorts.

<p><i>VDR</i> SNPs genotype distributions in our study cohorts.</p