Vitamin B12 Deficiency and Multiple Sclerosis; Is there Any Association?

Abstract

Background: Vitamin B12 (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 vitamin B12 deficiency and MS.
Methods: We measured serum vitamin B12 in 60 patients with
MS and 38 healthy controls. Clinical disability was evaluated
according to the Extended Disability Status Scale (EDSS). Serum
B12 concentration was measured with Radioimmunoassay Dual
Isotope method. The cutoff value for low serum vitamin B12
concentrations was 75 pg/mL. Patients were in remission at the
time of blood draw.
Results: There were 13 (21.6%) MS patients and 10 (26.3%)
controls with low serum B12 concentration with no significant
difference between the groups; P>0.05. The mean serum vitamin B12 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 B12 and disease’ age of onset,
duration, subtypes, or disability status.
Conclusions: In contrast to some previous reports, our findings
did not support any association between B12 deficiency and MS.
Keywords: Cobalamin, multiple sclerosis, vitamin B12