Relationship between serum vitamin D levels and inflammatory markers in acute stroke patients

INTRODUCTION: Low serum vitamin D levels are associated with the development of poststroke depression (PSD). Inflammatory markers play an important role in pathophysiology of PSD. The relationship between vitamin D levels and inflammatory markers has been discussed in nonstroke individuals. The purposes of this study were to explore the relationship between vitamin D levels and inflammatory markers in acute stroke patients and examine the effect of vitamin D and inflammatory markers on PSD. METHODS: A total of 152 acute stroke patients were recruited. Serum levels of 25‐hydroxyvitamin D and inflammatory markers were measured by standardized laboratory methods. Depression symptoms were assessed with the 17‐item Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD‐17). Patients with the HAMD‐17 scores ≥7 were identified to have depression symptoms. RESULTS: Serum vitamin D levels were negatively correlated with serum levels of interleukin‐6 and high‐sensitivity C‐reactive protein (hsCRP) (r = −.244, p = .002; r = −.231, p = .004). Multiple regression analysis showed that interleukin‐6 and hsCRP levels were associated with vitamin D levels (B = −0.355, p = .003; B = −2.085, p = .006), whereas age, height, weight, leukocyte count, neutrophil ratio, and lymphocyte rate could be omitted without changing the results. In multivariate analyses, the serum levels of vitamin D and interleukin‐6 were associated with the development of PSD after adjusted possible variables (OR = 0.976, 95% CI: 0.958–0.994, p = .009; OR = 1.029, 95% CI: 1.003–1.055, p = .027). CONCLUSIONS: Serum vitamin D levels are inversely associated with the levels of interleukin‐6 and hsCRP, suggesting a potential anti‐inflammatory role for vitamin D in stroke individuals.