cholecalciferol and Epstein-Barr-Virus-Infections

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection and vitamin D insufficiency are potentially interacting risk factors for multiple sclerosis (MS).. To investigate the effect of high-dose vitamin D. High-dose vitamin D

Topics: Adult; Antibodies, Viral; Cholecalciferol; Dietary Supplements; Epstein-Barr Virus Infections; Epstein-Barr Virus Nuclear Antigens; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting

Recently, the relationship between immunoreactivity to Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and hypo-vitamin D in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients has been described. The aim of this study was to investigate whether vitamin D3 supplementation in MS patients could influence the immune response against latent EBV infection. Forty MS patients were recruited in this study. Twenty-seven patients were supplemented with 50,000 IU/week of vitamin D3 for 6 months and thirteen enrolled as controls. 25-Hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD) levels and IgG titers against EBNA1 and VCA were determined pre- and post-supplementation. All the patients were seropositive for EBV prior to vitamin D supplementation. In this cohort, 22.5% and 47.5% of the MS patients had deficient and insufficient levels of 25OHD, respectively. Our findings confirm that antibody titers against EBV in MS patients rise after the onset of the disease and indicate that vitamin D3 supplementation could limit augmentation of these titers in MS patients.

Topics: Adult; Antibodies, Viral; Antigens, Viral; Capsid Proteins; Cholecalciferol; Dietary Supplements; Epstein-Barr Virus Infections; Epstein-Barr Virus Nuclear Antigens; Female; Herpesvirus 4, Human; Humans; Immunoglobulin G; Male; Multiple Sclerosis; Vitamin D

Elevated antibody levels against Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and a poor vitamin D status are environmental factors that may interact in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) aetiology.. To examine effects of high-dose oral vitamin D. The mean 25(OH)D level more than doubled in the vitamin D group and was significantly higher than in the placebo group at study conclusion (123.2 versus 61.8 nmol/L, p < 0.001). Compared to the placebo group, both anti-EBNA1 protein and fragment antibody levels decreased in the vitamin D group from baseline to week 48 ( p = 0.038 and p = 0.004, respectively), but not from baseline to week 96. Vitamin D. The results indicate that high-dose oral vitamin D

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Antibodies, Viral; Cholecalciferol; Epstein-Barr Virus Infections; Epstein-Barr Virus Nuclear Antigens; Female; Herpesvirus 4, Human; Humans; Immunoglobulin G; Male; Middle Aged; Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting; Young Adult

Vitamin D status, smoking, and Epstein-Barr virus infection (EBV) may all contribute to explain differences in disease prevalence and incidence of Multiple Sclerosis (MS). MS affects women more often than men, and recent cross-sectional study assessments provide evidence of increased female to male prevalence in relapsing remitting MS patients, suggesting that sex hormones may exert an active role in disease pathogenesis. Studies in both humans and animal disease models demonstrate a functional synergy for the immunomodulatory effects of Vitamin D3 and 17-β estradiol. Both smoking and EBV infection clearly increase MS risk, and smoking history has also been associated with poorer disease prognosis. However, neither factor can explain the recent trend indicating greater female prevalence. Therefore, large population-based case-control studies from well defined geographic areas with homogeneous populations should be performed, in order to define environmental factor effects, and sex hormone influences, to better understand prevalence and incidence gender differences observed.

Topics: Animals; Cholecalciferol; Epigenesis, Genetic; Epstein-Barr Virus Infections; Estradiol; Female; Herpesvirus 4, Human; Humans; Male; Multiple Sclerosis; Risk Factors; Sex Factors; Smoking