Comparison of serum d vitamin and calcium levels of multiple sclerosis patients with healthy individuals and evaluation of nutritional status

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a chronic and inflammatory disease of the Central Nervous System (CNS). The aim of this study was to compare MS and healthy individuals in terms of serum calcium (Ca) and vitamin D levels, nutritional status and some biochemical parameters. A total of 392 individuals (196 individuals with MS and 196 healthy subjects) in the range of 19-65 years of age who applied to Karadeniz Technical University Faculty of Medicine, Farabi Hospital MS Polyclinic were included in the study. General characteristics, health status, dietary habits, food consumption, food consumption frequencies and physical activity status of all individuals were determined by a questionnaire. Serum Ca, vitamin D and other biochemical values of individuals were analyzed. Serum Ca (9.24±0.99 mg/dL, 9.29±0.49 mg/dL, for women and men; respectively) and serum vitamin D (8.55±5.48 ng/mL and 9.85±4.35 ng/mL; respectively) levels of MS patients were found to be significantly lower than the healthy subjects. In terms of women and men, daily energy (1616.65±613.43 kcal and 1890.67±741.15 kcal; respectively), carbohydrate (CHO) (188.10±85.03 g and 212.93±99.36 g; respectively), lipid (71.13±30.41 g and 81.18±38.53 g; respectively) and protein (52.94±22.29 g and 74.07±38.18 g; respectively) intakes of MS patients were significantly lower than the intakes of healthy females and males (energy, CHO, fat and protein, respectively; 2024.46±577.12 kcal and 2550.17±649.61 kcal, 62.76±21.63 g and 86.84±28.01 g, 90.80±31.61 g and 113.32±34.30 g, 62.76±21.63 g and 86.84±28.01 g). Regular physical activity ratio of MS patients is lower than healthy individuals (p<0.001). Total energy expenditure was 1941.6±190.5 kcal in healthy subjects and 1870.0±182.8 kcal in individuals with MS (p<0.001). In this study, it was determined that biochemical parameters (alkaline phosphatase (ALP) (73.67±36.98U/L and 77.77±23.71 U/L; for female and male, respectively), C-reactive protein (CRP) (0.31±0.50 mg/L and 0.41±0.70 mg/L; respectively), anthropometric measurements (body weight 67.89±13.44 kg and 77.93±12.75 kg, waist circumference 91.11±15.66 cm and 95.62±12.10 cm, hip circumference 106.04±10.47 cm and 104.31±8.65 cm; respectively)), physical activity levels and nutritional status differ in MS patients and healthy individuals. In conclusion, the follow-up and improvement of the nutritional status should be included in the treatment process of MS patients.