Background
Both pregnancy and high vitamin D concentration seem to generate a protective environment against multiple sclerosis (MS) relapses. Longitudinal case–control analysis of vitamin D concentrations during pregnancy and lactation of MS mothers is lacking.
Aims of the study
To examine serum 25‐hydroxyvitamin‐D3 levels of MS patients during and after pregnancy and compare these to the levels measured in healthy controls.
Methods
Fifteen relapsing–remitting MS mothers underwent repeated testing for 25‐hydroxyvitamin‐D3 at 10–12, 26–28 and 35–37 gestational weeks and 1, 3 and 6 months post‐partum. An identical series of samples was collected from six control mothers.
Results
The prevalence of vitamin D deficiency (<50 nmol/l) during pregnancy was high (73%) among MS patients. Vitamin D levels were significantly higher during pregnancy when compared to early post‐partum values among MS patients. At the end of the follow‐up period, the vitamin D levels returned to levels observed in early pregnancy. In healthy controls, the alterations during and after pregnancy were similar in nature, but the vitamin D concentrations were higher at all time points when compared to MS patients (P = 0.037).
Conclusions
Vitamin D deficiency during the pregnancy and lactation seems to be common in mothers with MS and needs to be treated adequately.