Vitamin D levels are not predictors of survival in a clinic population of patients with ALS

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to measure serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D[25(OH)D] concentrations, bone mineral density (BMD), and the parameters of bone metabolism in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients, and their correlation with survival. Methods: We retrospectively analysed data of 100 ALS patients who consecutively visited a single referral ALS clinic between January and December 2011. Sex; age and site of symptom onset; and death were recorded. Serum 25(OH)D concentration was dichotomized as <10 ng/ml and >= 10 ng/ml. Results: There was absent relationship between serum 25(OH)D and concentration of bone turnover parameters or between 25(OH)D and BMD. According to the results of the Kaplan-Meier analysis with log-rank test, the survival rates of patients without (10 ng/ml) and of those with severe vitamin D deficiency (<10 ng/ml) were not significantly different. Cox regression analysis showed that a poor prognosis was most correlated with older age at onset and bulbar onset after adjustment for all the clinical factors. Conclusions: In conclusion, vitamin D levels were not correlated to other bone markers and survival in a clinic population of ALS patients.