Vitamin D and body mass index in Egyptian multiple sclerosis patients

Vitamin D deficiency and obesity may be related to the pathogenesis and disease activity of multiple sclerosis (MS). This study aimed to assess the correlation between the serum level of 25(OH) vitamin D, body mass index (BMI) and the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) in a sample of Egyptian MS patients.

This was an observational study that included 130 MS patients who were recruited consecutively among the patients attending the MS unit of Ain Shams University Hospital, Cairo, in the period between December 2017 and March 2018. The serum level of 25(OH) D, BMI and EDSS were recorded.

Females represented 77.7% of the study sample, the mean age was 32.4 ± 8.2 years. MS types were: RRMS 83.1%, SPMS 14.6% and PPMS in 2.3%. Serum level of 25(OH) vitamin D was deficient (less than 10 ng/ml) in 69.2% and insufficient (10-30 ng/ml) in 19.2% of the study population. The mean BMI was 25.5 ± 4.7 kg/m² (classified as overweight). The mean EDSS was 3.5 ± 1.9. The relationship between the EDSS score and 25(OH) D level was inversely correlated, all patients with EDSS ≤ 2 had sufficient levels while all patients with EDSS ≥ 4.5 had deficient levels. High EDSS scores were statistically correlated (p < 0.001) to high BMI and low Log 25(OH) D levels. An inverse correlation was found between the BMI and log 25(OH) D.

Vitamin D deficiency and overweight are predominant among Egyptian MS patients. The EDSS was positively correlated to the BMI and negatively correlated to 25(OH) D. These factors may possibly play a role in the pathogeneses and progression of MS in Egypt.