Vitamin D supplementation and serum neurofilament light chain in interferon-beta-1b-treated MS patients.

What Was Tested

Researchers studied Vitamin D, K2, Magnesium and Zinc in this randomized controlled trial publication.

The aim of the present study was to address whether sNfL concentrations are affected by supplementation of vitamin D and correlate with disease activity in interferon-beta-1b (IFNb-1b)-treated Finnish MS.

Who Took Part

The study group was 32 participants.

Serum samples were available of 32 participants of the Finnish vitamin D randomized controlled trial (17 vitamin D/15 placebo).

How the Study Was Run

The design is described as randomized and placebo-controlled.

The participants were allocated by chance, so the Vitamin D, K2, Magnesium and Zinc group and the comparison group should start out alike.

A placebo (an inactive look-alike) gave the Vitamin D, K2, Magnesium and Zinc group a baseline to be compared against.

Serum 25 hydroxyvitamin D was measured using radioimmunoassay and sNfL using single-molecule array (Simoa).

Correlation of sNfL with brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) activity, burden of disease (BOD, mm3 ), and disability was assessed at the study baseline and at 52 weeks.

What Was Measured

Topics PubMed links to this paper include Biomarkers, Dietary Supplements, Finland, Interferon beta-1b, Intermediate Filaments, Multiple Sclerosis and Neurofilament Proteins.

Author keywords: NMR, neuroimaging and treatment.

What This Means in Plain Language

The paper is a randomized and placebo-controlled study of Vitamin D, K2, Magnesium and Zinc in 32 participants.

With fewer than 40 people, it is a small study, so it is better read as an early signal for further research than as a settled answer.

The abstract goes on to report its results in about 5 sentences; this page does not restate them, so read the paper for the findings and their limits.

The publication is from 2020 (Brain and behavior), a journal based in United States.

More context: the Vitamin D, K2, Magnesium and Zinc compound page, all human trials.