Abstract
Objective: This study aimed to detect serum vitamin D (VitD) levels in patients with primary restless legs syndrome (RLS). The further objective was to analyze the relationship of VitD levels with the severity of RLS symptoms, sleep, anxiety, and depression.Methods: The serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] levels of 57 patients with primary RLS and the healthy physical examinees in our hospital during the same period were detected. The International Restless Legs Syndrome Study Group (IRLSSG) rating scale for measuring RLS severity and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) Scale, 24-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD24), and 14-item Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAMA14) were used to assess the severity of symptoms, sleep, and emotional state of patients with RLS. Based on VitD level and IRLSSG score, they were grouped for analysis.Results: The serum 25(OH)D level was significantly lower in patients with RLS than in healthy controls, and the incidence of insufficient serum VitD levels was significantly higher in patients with RLS than in healthy people (both P < 0.05). The serum VitD level was significantly lower in (extremely) severe patients with RLS than in mild to moderate patients with RLS (P < 0.05). The IRLSSG scale score and HAMD24 score were significantly higher in patients with RLS with insufficient serum VitD levels than those with normal serum VitD levels (both P < 0.05). Correlation analysis of IRLSSG scale score with serum VitD level and each scale score in patients with RLS showed that IRLSSG scale score was negatively correlated with VitD level, but positively correlated with PSQI, HAMA14, and HAMD24 scores. The results of correlation analysis between serum VitD levels and each scale score in patients with RLS indicated that serum VitD levels were negatively correlated with IRLSSG scale scores, PSQI scores, and HAMD24 scores.Conclusion: The serum VitD level is generally lower in patients with RLS than in healthy people, and lower serum VitD level is associated with more severe symptoms of RLS, worse quality of sleep, and worse depression.
Highlights
Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is one of the most common sleeprelated sensorimotor disorders of the central nervous system, which is mainly manifested as indescribable limb discomfort, such as “prickly or stinging sensation,” “creeping sensation,” and “burning sensation” in the resting state, especially before going to bed or during quiet rest
Vitamin D deficiency can lead to reduced levels of dopamine and its metabolites in the brain, and the decreased release of dopamine in the substantia nigra of the midbrain and dopaminergic transmission disorders are common pathogenesis of RLS
This study found that patients with primary RLS had low serum Vitamin D (VitD) levels, and the incidence was higher in patients with insufficient VitD levels than in healthy people
Summary
Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is one of the most common sleeprelated sensorimotor disorders of the central nervous system, which is mainly manifested as indescribable limb discomfort, such as “prickly or stinging sensation,” “creeping sensation,” and “burning sensation” in the resting state, especially before going to bed or during quiet rest. It can occur on one side or both sides of the limbs, in the lower limbs. Relevant studies mainly focus on brain iron deficiency, neurotransmitter regulation disorders including dopaminergic system, and genetic factors. Vitamin D (VitD) is involved in regulating the activity of the amygdala to improve patients’ depression and anxiety
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