Vitamin D Supplementation and Mental Health in Multiple Sclerosis Patients: A Systematic Review.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to assess the influence of vitamin D supplementation on mental health outcomes, including quality of life and depressive symptoms, in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS).
Results Summary
The majority of studies supported a positive effect of vitamin D on mental health in MS patients, particularly for quality of life, though results for depressive symptoms were mixed. The highest-quality study (randomized against placebo) also indicated benefits.
Population
Patients with multiple sclerosis (MS)
Effective Dosage
Not specified (doses varied across studies)
Duration
4 weeks to 12 months (or long-term follow-up in some studies)
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
vitamin D | neutral | multiple sclerosis (MS) management | - | - | has a promising role | #1 |
vitamin D | increase | mental health | MS patients | - | has been found to be beneficial | #2 |
vitamin D supplementation | increase | mental health | MS patients | - | positive influence | #3 |
vitamin D | increase | quality of life | MS patients | - | positive influence | #4 |
vitamin D | no change | depression/depressive symptoms | - | - | did not find a positive influence | #5 |
vitamin D supplementation | increase | quality of life | MS patients | - | positive effect | #6 |
vitamin D supplementation | increase | depressive symptoms | MS patients | - | positive effect | #7 |
vitamin D supplementation | increase | quality of life | MS patients | - | potential positive influence | #8 |
Vitamin D has a promising role in multiple sclerosis (MS) management, and it has been found to be beneficial for patients' mental health, which is reduced in MS patients. The aim of the present study was to conduct a systematic review of the literature to assess the influence of vitamin D supplementation on mental health in MS patients. The systematic review was registered in the PROSPERO database (CRD42020155779) and it was conducted on the basis of the PRISMA guidelines. The search procedure was conducted using PubMed and Web of Science databases and it included studies published up until September 2021. Six studies were included in the systematic review. The risk of bias was analyzed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS). Within the included studies, there were two studies randomized against placebo and four other prospective studies. The studies presented vitamin D interventions randomized against placebo or not randomized, while supplementation was applied for various durations-from 4 weeks to 12 months, or the studies compared patients who applied vitamin D supplementation and those who did not apply it and verified the effect of the supplementation after a number of years. The mental health outcomes that were assessed included quality of life, depression/depressive symptoms, and fatigue as an additional element. The majority of studies supported the positive influence of vitamin D on the mental health of MS patients, including the study characterized as having the highest quality (randomized against placebo with the highest NOS score). All the studies that assessed the quality of life indicated the positive influence of vitamin D while the studies that did not find a positive influence of vitamin D were conducted for depression/depressive symptoms. In spite of the fact that only a small number of studies have been conducted so far, and only two studies were randomized against a placebo, some conclusions may be formulated. The systematic review allowed us to conclude that there may be a positive effect of vitamin D supplementation in MS patients, which was stated in all of the studies analyzing quality of life, as well as in one study analyzing depressive symptoms. Considering that vitamin D deficiency is common in MS patients, and the potential positive influence of supplementation on the quality of life, supplementation should be applied at least in doses that cover the recommended intake.