The effects of vitamin D supplementation on expanded disability status scale in people with multiple sclerosis: A critical, systematic review and metaanalysis of randomized controlled trials

Abstract

In this meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs), the effects of vitamin D supplementation on the scores for the expanded disability status scale (EDSS) in people with multiple sclerosis (MS) are assessed. The following databases were search up to January 2018: MEDLINE, EMBASE, Web of Science, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials. The quality of the relevant extracted data was assessed according to the Cochrane risk of bias tool. Data were pooled by the use of the inverse variance method and expressed as mean difference with 95% Confidence Intervals (95% CI). Six studies were included in this meta-analysis. The findings demonstrated that supplementation with vitamin D alone and vitamin D plus calcium did not affect the EDSS score (WMD -0.11 (-0.33, 0.11); P = 0.32). In addition, subgroup analysis showed that vitamin D supplementation alone, when compared to the use of a placebo, and vitamin D plus calcium supplementation compared with the control did not affect EDSS (WMD -0.13 (-0.30, 0.11); P = 0.29) and (WMD -0.08 (-0.57, 0.41); P = 0.29), respectively. Overall, this meta-analysis indicated that taking vitamin D in people with MS had no significant effect on EDSS.

Keywords: Expanded disability status scale; Meta-analysis; Multiple sclerosis; Vitamin D supplementation.