Vitamin B[12] deficiency and multiple sclerosis; is there any association?

ABSTRACT

Vitamin B[12] [Cobalamin] deficiency can result in some clinical and paraclinical characteristics similar to what is seen in multiple sclerosis [MS] patients. This study aimed to evaluate the controversial association between B[12] deficiency and MS. We measured serum vitamin B[12] in 60 patients with MS and 38 healthy controls. Clinical disability was evaluated according to the Extended Disability Status Scale [EDSS]. Serum B[12] concentration was measured with Radioimmunoassay Dual Isotope method. The cutoff value for low serum vitamin B[12] concentration was 75 pg/mL. Patients were in remission at the time of blood draw. There were 13 [21.6%] MS patients and 10 [26.3%] controls with low serum B[12] concentration with no significant difference between the groups; P>0.05. The mean serum vitamin B[12] concentration in MS patients [108.9 +/- 45.3 pg/mL] was not significantly different compared with controls [98.9 +/- 44.4 pg/mL]; P=0.284. Likewise, there was no correlation between the concentration of serum vitamin B[12] and disease' age of onset, duration, subtypes, or disability status. In contrast to some previous reports, our findings did not support any association between B[12] deficiency and MS