EBV and Vitamin D..reducing antibodies

Rolf L, Muris AH, Mathias A, Du Pasquier R, Koneczny I, Disanto G, Kuhle J, Ramagopalan S, Damoiseaux J, Smolders J, Hupperts R. Exploring the effect of vitamin D3 supplementation on the anti-EBV antibody response in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis. Mult Scler. 2017:1352458517722646. 

BACKGROUND:Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection and vitamin D insufficiency are potentially interacting risk factors for multiple sclerosis(MS).
OBJECTIVES:To investigate the effect of high-dose vitamin D3 supplements on antibody levels against the EBV nuclear antigen-1 (EBNA-1) in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) and to explore any underlying mechanism affecting anti-EBNA-1 antibody levels.
METHODS:This study utilized blood samples from a randomized controlled trial in RRMS patients receiving either vitamin D3 (14,000 IU/day; n = 30) or placebo ( n = 23) over 48 weeks. Circulating levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin-D, and anti-EBNA-1, anti-EBV viral capsid antigen (VCA), and anti-cytomegalovirus (CMV) antibodies were measured. EBV load in leukocytes, EBV-specific cytotoxic T-cell responses, and anti-EBNA-1 antibody production in vitro were also explored.
RESULTS:The median antibody levels against EBNA-1, but not VCA and CMV, significantly reduced in the vitamin D3 group (526 (368-1683) to 455 (380-1148) U/mL) compared to the placebo group (432 (351-1280) to 429 (297-1290) U/mL; p = 0.023). EBV load and cytotoxic T-cell responses were unaffected. Anti-EBNA-1 antibody levels remained below detection limits in B-cell cultures.
CONCLUSION:High-dose vitamin D3 supplementation selectively reduces anti-EBNA-1 antibody levels in RRMS patients. Our exploratory studies do not implicate a promoted immune response against EBV as the underlying mechanism.
As ProfG sits on a beach pondering the "meaning of MS", does this study hit the jackpot,?

It has vitamin D and EBV as two things close to his heart as the centre of MS susceptibility. 

What does this study  say? 

It is a trial of vitamin D supplementation and they look at EBV antibody levels and find that if you supplement with vitamin D the levels of of antibodies against parts of the EBV virus go down. 

However, this has no impact on viral load. They then conclude this result does not implicate a promoted immune response against EBV.

Whilst ProfG contemplates whats this means, I ask what is the relevant biology here?

The implication is that vitamin D has an impact in utero (in the womb) and perhaps shapes the immune response in early life. This is what is implicated from studies in type 1 diabetes. EBV is a trigger factor when it infects someone years later. 

Now I can go with the flow that studying the effect of vitamin D supplementation,decades after birth, has impact. This idea has caused a myriad of clinical studies in all sorts of conditions, many outside MS. The charities are shelling out loads of cash investigating this, in response to the interest whipped up by the Docs doing the trials. However,  this study highlights one of the problems I have with the vitamin D brigade and the clinical fraternity.

This is a trial involving 53 people. 

What is this really going to tell us about vitamin D?

It is hopelessly underpowered to tell us much and certainly can't tell us whether vitamin D impacts on MS. A P value = 0.023 so about a 1 in fifty chance that this occurs by chance. It will need repeating...another unpowered trial:-(

It is just like the omega oils...lots of useless small trials giving no answers.

They give a whiff of something but are never big enough to give a useful answer about the benefit or lack of it, and we will be supplementing forever so H& B (vitamin Shop) are happy. 

How many individual trials are being funded on vitamin D?.

I suspect that in MSm vitamin D will not be a very good immune modulator, if it was great you would have all sorts of side effects....you don't... so don't expect the earth. Can it be of benefit, sure it can and you need to ensure good bone health.


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