Effect of vitamin D supplement on the outcome of acute ischemic stroke in young patients with vitamin D deficiency

Abstract

Objective To investigate the effect of vitamin D supplementation on the outcome of acute ischemic stroke in young patients with vitamin D deficiency. Methods The prospective controlled study was used to select the consecutive young patients with acute ischemic stroke. Vitamin D deficiency was defined as 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) ≤50 nmol/L. The Patients with vitamin D deficiency were randomly divided into an intervention group and a routine treatment group according to the random number table method. Routine treatment group didn't receive the drug intervention for vitamin D deficiency, and the intervention group received daily oral alfacalcidol 0.5 μg. After 1 year of treatment, the 25(OH)D levels were examined again; the adverse reactions during the drug treatment were monitored; the modified Rankin Scale (mRS) was used to evaluate the functional outcome and 0-2 was defined as good outcome. Results There are 94 patients (53.41%) with vitamin D deficiency among 176 young patients with acute ischemic stroke. They were randomly divided into either an intervention group or a routine treatment group (n=47 in each group). At the end of the follow-up, the good outcome rate (82.98% vs. 63.83%; χ2=4.414, P=0.036) and serum 25(OH)D level (85.83±10.53 nmol/L vs. 39.10±11.18 nmol/L; t=20.860, P<0.001) in the intervention group were significantly higher than those in the routine treatment group. During the follow-up period, there was no loss to follow-up or death events in both groups. Only 2 cases of nausea and 1 case of dizziness were observed, and the incidence of adverse reaction was 6.38% in the intervention group. Conclusions Vitamin D supplement can increase the vitamin D levels and improve functional outcome in young patients with acute ischemic stroke and vitamin D deficiency. Key words: Stroke; Brain Ischemia; Young Adult; Vitamin D; Vitamin D Deficiency; Treatment Outcome