The relation between Vitamin D status with fatigue and depressive symptoms of multiple sclerosis

BACKGROUND: The relation between Vitamin D deficiency with depressive and fatigue symptoms in both Multiple sclerosis (MS) patients and healthy population have been reported. To represent our regional achievement in this field we investigated the relation between Vitamin D status with fatigue and depressive symptoms in MS patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In two hundred MS patients, depressive symptoms and fatigue were measured using Beck PC (BDI-PC) and FFS scale, respectively. Venous blood sample was obtained from all participants and serum 25-hydroxy Vitamin D was measured by radioimmunoassay (RIA) method. Mean score of FSS, BDI-PC and EDSS were compared in patients with normal and low level of Vitamin D. The relation between FSS, BDI-PC score, EDSS and low Vitamin D status was determined. RESULTS: There was a moderate significant correlation between MS disability evaluated by EDSS and fatigue (r = 0.37, P < 0.001) and depression (r = 0.26, P < 0.001). The prevalence of low Vitamin D status was 48.5%. Low Vitamin D status was inversely associated with depressive symptoms of patients with MS (P = 0.02 rs = -0.16), but there was not significant correlation between Vitamin D and fatigue symptoms (P = 0.2). CONCLUSION: More interventional studies for determining the role of Vitamin D supplements in this regard is recommended.