Vitamin D enhances interferon-beta-1b response in multiple sclerosis
ECTRIMS Online Library. Reder A. Oct 2015
Objective: Determine molecular effect of Vitamin D3 on interferon-beta response in mononuclear cells.
Background: Oral vitamin D has additive effects on IFN-b therapy in reducing MRI lesions and clinical activity in MS. The mechanism is unknown, and may be confounded by IFN elevation of serum vitamin D levels, lifestyle, and the subnormal endogenous IFN signaling present in therapy-naïve MS patients.
Conclusions: Vitamin D enhances IFN-beta activation of STAT1 by 100% in untreated patients and by 60% in IFN-treated patients. This increase in interferon signaling may provide a mechanism for benefits of vitamin D in preventing and ameliorating MS, before and during IFN-b therapy. Vitamin D is an inexpensive and safe way to amplify IFN-b’s therapeutic benefit.