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Investigating the Effects of Hydroxyvitamin D3 on Multiple Sclerosis

Investigating the Effects of Hydroxyvitamin D3 Versus Vitamin D3 on Clinical, and Radiologic Progress and Th17/Tregs Balance in MS Patients: A Randomized, Clinical Trial- a Pilot Study

Status
UNKNOWN
Phases
Phase 4
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT05340985
Enrollment
54
Registered
2022-04-22
Start date
2022-07-31
Completion date
2023-12-31
Last updated
2022-04-22

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Adult ALL, Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting, Vitamin D3 Deficiency

Brief summary

Investigating the effects of hydroxyvitamin D3 on clinical, radiologic and immunomodulatory markers in MS patients: A randomized, clinical trial- a pilot study

Detailed description

Vitamin D deficiency/insufficiency is a risk factor for developing MS and is linked to increased disease activity in those with established disease. Several clinical trials have already been conducted to consider the effect of vitamin D supplementation on clinical outcomes of the disease but the findings were inconsistent. This paradox may be explained by supplementation dose, trial duration and also an insufficient rise in serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D to be effective on immunomodulatory pathways and consequent clinical outcomes. Of note, it was revealed that MS patients have a lower rise in serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D \[25(OH)D\] levels compared with healthy controls (HCs), when given the same amount of oral cholecalciferol supplementation. Cholecalciferol is the main vitamin D supplement that was used in these trials. When vitamin D3 is ingested, it is incorporated into chylomicrons and enters the lymphatic system. The chylomicrons then enter into the bloodstream via the superior cava. Most of the vitamin D is incorporated into the body fat. Vitamin D3 in the circulation and the vitamin D3 that is slowly released from the body fat into the circulation is converted in the liver to 25(OH)D3, taking approximately 6-8 weeks to achieve a steady state concentration of 25(OH)D3. The more rapid increase in serum concentrations of 25(OH)D3, by treatment with calcifediol instead of cholecalciferol, may provide an advantage through rapid entry into its target innate and adaptive immune cells, resulting in the paracrine/autocrine production of 1α,25(OH)2D which interacts with the vitamin D receptor (VDR) to modulate immune function.

Interventions

DIETARY_SUPPLEMENT25(OH)D3

calcifediol

DIETARY_SUPPLEMENTvitamin D3

Cholecalciferol

Sponsors

Boston University
CollaboratorOTHER
Tehran University of Medical Sciences
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
BASIC_SCIENCE
Masking
SINGLE (Outcomes Assessor)

Masking description

All participants at the MS clinic will be blinded to trial intervention allocation. The main outcomes will be evaluated by neurologists. Investigator is also blind; two type of vitamin D; 25(OH)D3 and cholecalciferol capsules with similar shape and color.

Intervention model description

This is a randomized clinical trial with a parallel group and allocation 1:1.

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 55 Years
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

1. MS type: relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS) 2. older than 18 year-old 3. Vitamin D deficiency/insufficiency (25(OH)D\<30 ng/ml

Exclusion criteria

1. medications or disorders that would affect vitamin D metabolism 2. history of other chronic disorders 3. history of conditions that could lead to high serum calcium levels 4. pulse therapy in the last 3 months 5. history of attack in the last 3 months 6. using corticosteroid in the last 3 months 7. be pregnant

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Differential gene expression6 months (baseline and end of 6th month) in each intervention armAfter six months of 25-hydroxy vitamin D supplementation, the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in peripheral blood mononuclear cells at the transcriptome level will be considered by RNA-seq
Number of relapses6 months (baseline and end of 6th month) in each intervention armneurologic symptoms lasting more than 24 hours which occur at least 30 days after the onset of a preceding event
disability6 months (baseline and end of 6th month) in each intervention armChange in expanded disability status scale (EDSS) according to Kurtzke 1983. The minimum is 0 (no disability) and maximum value is 10 (Death due to MS)- higher scores mean a worse outcome.
Change in MRI parameters6 months (baseline and end of 6th month) in each intervention armnew lesions on T2 weighted images, gadolinium enhancing lesions in T1-weighted images
changing in brain parameters of Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI)6 months (baseline and end of 6th month) in each intervention armthe integrity of white matter (WM) by analyzing WM microstructure through DTI
changing in Cognition6 months (baseline and end of 6th month) in each intervention armChanging in cognitive functions by the Minimal Assessment of Cognitive Function in MS (MACFIMS) battery. The lower the score the more disfunction. MACFIMS is consisting of 7 subtests including: 1. the California Verbal Learning Test second edition (CVLT-II), with the range score: 0-80 2. the Paced Auditory Serial Addition Test (PASAT), with the range score: 0-16 3. the Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT), with the range score: 0-110 4. the Brief Visuospatial Memory Test-Revised (BVMT-R), with the range score: 0-36 5. the Controlled Oral Word Association Test (COWAT), with the range score: 0-12 6. the Delis-Kaplan Executive Function System (DKEFS) sorting Test, with the range score: 0- undetermined 7. the Judgment of Line Orientation Test (JLO), with the range score: 0-30 The higher score in each subtest means the better cognitive function
CD4+ T cell response6 months (baseline and end of 6th month) in each intervention armAfter six months, changing the balance of Th17 and Tregs subtypes of CD4+ T cells. Detecting interleukin (IL) 17 -expressing T cells and Tregs expressing T cells by flow cytometry.

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
changing in quality of life6 months (baseline and end of 6th month) in each intervention armchanging in quality of life that determined by the Short Form Health Survey that contains 36-item (Sf36). The score is between 0-100. The lower the score the more disability. The higher the score the less disability.
effective in rapidly raising circulating levels of 25(OH)D36 months (baseline and end of 6th month) in each intervention armSerum levels of 25-hydroxy vitamin D (25(OH)D will be measured by High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)
changing in the circulating levels of interleukin 17 as a inflammatory marker6 months (baseline and end of 6th month) in each intervention armAfter six months of calcifediol/or cholecalciferol supplementation, measuring serum levels of IL-17 by enzyme-linked immunoassay (ELIZA) kit.
changing in the levels of interleukin 10 as anti- inflammatory marker6 months (baseline and end of 6th month) in each intervention armAfter six months of calcifediol/or cholecalciferol supplementation, measuring serum levels of IL-10 by ELIZA kit.
changing in the levels of Tumor Necrosis Factor alpha (TNF-a) as an inflammatory marker related the T-CD4 subsets6 months (baseline and end of 6th month) in each intervention armAfter six months of calcifediol/or cholecalciferol supplementation, measuring serum levels of TNF-a by ELIZA kit.
needing hospitalization6 months (baseline and end of 6th month) in each intervention armneeding hospitalization due to remissions and exacerbations of the disease

Contacts

Primary ContactZhila Maghbooli
zhilayas@gmail.com00989121973516

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026