Evidence map›Paper›PMID 27903815›Full record

ArticleNeurology2017

Neonatal vitamin D status and risk of multiple sclerosis: A population-based case-control study.

Nete Munk Nielsen, Kassandra L Munger, Nils Koch-Henriksen, David M Hougaard, Melinda Magyari, Kristian T Jørgensen, Marika Lundqvist, Jacob Simonsen, Tine Jess, Arieh Cohen and 2 more

Open access · hybridAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Neurology, 2017. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 55 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
55citing papers in PubMed, 2 pooled it
11.8field-weighted citation impact, top 1% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

55 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 134 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Vitamin D for the management of multiple sclerosis.The Cochrane database of systematic reviews · 2018
    Pooled it
  3. Trial
  4. Trial
  5. Article
  6. Towards primary prevention of multiple sclerosis.Nature reviews. Neurology · 2026
    Review
  7. A narrative review of genetic and environmental factors and risk for multiple sclerosis. The design of the Italian multicentric PEDIGREE study.Neurological sciences : official journal of the Italian Neurological Society and of the Italian Society of Clinical Neurophysiology · 2025
    Review
  8. Aberrant Enhancer Regulation, Phase Separation, and Autoimmune Diseases.Clinical reviews in allergy & immunology · 2025
    Review
  9. Review
  10. Review
  11. Article
  12. Review
  13. Article
  14. Review
  15. Melatonin and vitamin D, two sides of the same coin, better to land on its edge to improve multiple sclerosis.Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America · 2023
    Review
  16. Article
  17. Article
  18. Review
  19. Article
  20. Nuclear hormone receptors in demyelinating diseases.Journal of neuroendocrinology · 2022
    Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

12 authors at 5 institutions in 2 countries.

Nete Munk NielsenFrom the Department of Epidemiology Research (N.M.N., K.T.J., J.S., T.J.) and the Danish Centre for Neonatal Screening, Department for Congenital Disorders (D.M.H., M.L., A.C.), Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark; Departments of Nutrition (K.L.M., A.A.) and Epidemiology (A.A.), Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA; The Danish Multiple Sclerosis Registry (N.K.-H., M.M., E.S.), Danish Multiple Sclerosis Centre, Department of Neurology, University of Copenhagen (M.M.), and Danish Multiple Sclerosis Research Centre, Department of Neurology, Neuroscience Centre (M.M.), Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark; Institute of Regional Health Research (E.S.), University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark, and National Institute of Public Health (E.S.), University of Southern Denmark, Copenhagen; Department of Neurology (E.S.), Multiple Sclerosis Clinic of Southern Jutland (Sønderborg, Vejle, Esbjerg), Sønderborg, Denmark; Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Clinical Institute (N.K.-H.), University of Aarhus, Aarhus, Denmark; and Channing Division of Network Medicine (A.A.), Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA. NMN@ssi.dk.
Kassandra L MungerFrom the Department of Epidemiology Research (N.M.N., K.T.J., J.S., T.J.) and the Danish Centre for Neonatal Screening, Department for Congenital Disorders (D.M.H., M.L., A.C.), Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark; Departments of Nutrition (K.L.M., A.A.) and Epidemiology (A.A.), Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA; The Danish Multiple Sclerosis Registry (N.K.-H., M.M., E.S.), Danish Multiple Sclerosis Centre, Department of Neurology, University of Copenhagen (M.M.), and Danish Multiple Sclerosis Research Centre, Department of Neurology, Neuroscience Centre (M.M.), Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark; Institute of Regional Health Research (E.S.), University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark, and National Institute of Public Health (E.S.), University of Southern Denmark, Copenhagen; Department of Neurology (E.S.), Multiple Sclerosis Clinic of Southern Jutland (Sønderborg, Vejle, Esbjerg), Sønderborg, Denmark; Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Clinical Institute (N.K.-H.), University of Aarhus, Aarhus, Denmark; and Channing Division of Network Medicine (A.A.), Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA.
Nils Koch-HenriksenFrom the Department of Epidemiology Research (N.M.N., K.T.J., J.S., T.J.) and the Danish Centre for Neonatal Screening, Department for Congenital Disorders (D.M.H., M.L., A.C.), Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark; Departments of Nutrition (K.L.M., A.A.) and Epidemiology (A.A.), Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA; The Danish Multiple Sclerosis Registry (N.K.-H., M.M., E.S.), Danish Multiple Sclerosis Centre, Department of Neurology, University of Copenhagen (M.M.), and Danish Multiple Sclerosis Research Centre, Department of Neurology, Neuroscience Centre (M.M.), Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark; Institute of Regional Health Research (E.S.), University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark, and National Institute of Public Health (E.S.), University of Southern Denmark, Copenhagen; Department of Neurology (E.S.), Multiple Sclerosis Clinic of Southern Jutland (Sønderborg, Vejle, Esbjerg), Sønderborg, Denmark; Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Clinical Institute (N.K.-H.), University of Aarhus, Aarhus, Denmark; and Channing Division of Network Medicine (A.A.), Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA.
David M HougaardFrom the Department of Epidemiology Research (N.M.N., K.T.J., J.S., T.J.) and the Danish Centre for Neonatal Screening, Department for Congenital Disorders (D.M.H., M.L., A.C.), Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark; Departments of Nutrition (K.L.M., A.A.) and Epidemiology (A.A.), Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA; The Danish Multiple Sclerosis Registry (N.K.-H., M.M., E.S.), Danish Multiple Sclerosis Centre, Department of Neurology, University of Copenhagen (M.M.), and Danish Multiple Sclerosis Research Centre, Department of Neurology, Neuroscience Centre (M.M.), Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark; Institute of Regional Health Research (E.S.), University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark, and National Institute of Public Health (E.S.), University of Southern Denmark, Copenhagen; Department of Neurology (E.S.), Multiple Sclerosis Clinic of Southern Jutland (Sønderborg, Vejle, Esbjerg), Sønderborg, Denmark; Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Clinical Institute (N.K.-H.), University of Aarhus, Aarhus, Denmark; and Channing Division of Network Medicine (A.A.), Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA.
Melinda MagyariFrom the Department of Epidemiology Research (N.M.N., K.T.J., J.S., T.J.) and the Danish Centre for Neonatal Screening, Department for Congenital Disorders (D.M.H., M.L., A.C.), Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark; Departments of Nutrition (K.L.M., A.A.) and Epidemiology (A.A.), Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA; The Danish Multiple Sclerosis Registry (N.K.-H., M.M., E.S.), Danish Multiple Sclerosis Centre, Department of Neurology, University of Copenhagen (M.M.), and Danish Multiple Sclerosis Research Centre, Department of Neurology, Neuroscience Centre (M.M.), Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark; Institute of Regional Health Research (E.S.), University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark, and National Institute of Public Health (E.S.), University of Southern Denmark, Copenhagen; Department of Neurology (E.S.), Multiple Sclerosis Clinic of Southern Jutland (Sønderborg, Vejle, Esbjerg), Sønderborg, Denmark; Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Clinical Institute (N.K.-H.), University of Aarhus, Aarhus, Denmark; and Channing Division of Network Medicine (A.A.), Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA.
Kristian T JørgensenFrom the Department of Epidemiology Research (N.M.N., K.T.J., J.S., T.J.) and the Danish Centre for Neonatal Screening, Department for Congenital Disorders (D.M.H., M.L., A.C.), Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark; Departments of Nutrition (K.L.M., A.A.) and Epidemiology (A.A.), Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA; The Danish Multiple Sclerosis Registry (N.K.-H., M.M., E.S.), Danish Multiple Sclerosis Centre, Department of Neurology, University of Copenhagen (M.M.), and Danish Multiple Sclerosis Research Centre, Department of Neurology, Neuroscience Centre (M.M.), Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark; Institute of Regional Health Research (E.S.), University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark, and National Institute of Public Health (E.S.), University of Southern Denmark, Copenhagen; Department of Neurology (E.S.), Multiple Sclerosis Clinic of Southern Jutland (Sønderborg, Vejle, Esbjerg), Sønderborg, Denmark; Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Clinical Institute (N.K.-H.), University of Aarhus, Aarhus, Denmark; and Channing Division of Network Medicine (A.A.), Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA.
Marika LundqvistFrom the Department of Epidemiology Research (N.M.N., K.T.J., J.S., T.J.) and the Danish Centre for Neonatal Screening, Department for Congenital Disorders (D.M.H., M.L., A.C.), Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark; Departments of Nutrition (K.L.M., A.A.) and Epidemiology (A.A.), Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA; The Danish Multiple Sclerosis Registry (N.K.-H., M.M., E.S.), Danish Multiple Sclerosis Centre, Department of Neurology, University of Copenhagen (M.M.), and Danish Multiple Sclerosis Research Centre, Department of Neurology, Neuroscience Centre (M.M.), Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark; Institute of Regional Health Research (E.S.), University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark, and National Institute of Public Health (E.S.), University of Southern Denmark, Copenhagen; Department of Neurology (E.S.), Multiple Sclerosis Clinic of Southern Jutland (Sønderborg, Vejle, Esbjerg), Sønderborg, Denmark; Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Clinical Institute (N.K.-H.), University of Aarhus, Aarhus, Denmark; and Channing Division of Network Medicine (A.A.), Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA.
Jacob SimonsenFrom the Department of Epidemiology Research (N.M.N., K.T.J., J.S., T.J.) and the Danish Centre for Neonatal Screening, Department for Congenital Disorders (D.M.H., M.L., A.C.), Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark; Departments of Nutrition (K.L.M., A.A.) and Epidemiology (A.A.), Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA; The Danish Multiple Sclerosis Registry (N.K.-H., M.M., E.S.), Danish Multiple Sclerosis Centre, Department of Neurology, University of Copenhagen (M.M.), and Danish Multiple Sclerosis Research Centre, Department of Neurology, Neuroscience Centre (M.M.), Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark; Institute of Regional Health Research (E.S.), University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark, and National Institute of Public Health (E.S.), University of Southern Denmark, Copenhagen; Department of Neurology (E.S.), Multiple Sclerosis Clinic of Southern Jutland (Sønderborg, Vejle, Esbjerg), Sønderborg, Denmark; Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Clinical Institute (N.K.-H.), University of Aarhus, Aarhus, Denmark; and Channing Division of Network Medicine (A.A.), Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA.
Tine JessFrom the Department of Epidemiology Research (N.M.N., K.T.J., J.S., T.J.) and the Danish Centre for Neonatal Screening, Department for Congenital Disorders (D.M.H., M.L., A.C.), Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark; Departments of Nutrition (K.L.M., A.A.) and Epidemiology (A.A.), Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA; The Danish Multiple Sclerosis Registry (N.K.-H., M.M., E.S.), Danish Multiple Sclerosis Centre, Department of Neurology, University of Copenhagen (M.M.), and Danish Multiple Sclerosis Research Centre, Department of Neurology, Neuroscience Centre (M.M.), Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark; Institute of Regional Health Research (E.S.), University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark, and National Institute of Public Health (E.S.), University of Southern Denmark, Copenhagen; Department of Neurology (E.S.), Multiple Sclerosis Clinic of Southern Jutland (Sønderborg, Vejle, Esbjerg), Sønderborg, Denmark; Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Clinical Institute (N.K.-H.), University of Aarhus, Aarhus, Denmark; and Channing Division of Network Medicine (A.A.), Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA.
Arieh CohenFrom the Department of Epidemiology Research (N.M.N., K.T.J., J.S., T.J.) and the Danish Centre for Neonatal Screening, Department for Congenital Disorders (D.M.H., M.L., A.C.), Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark; Departments of Nutrition (K.L.M., A.A.) and Epidemiology (A.A.), Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA; The Danish Multiple Sclerosis Registry (N.K.-H., M.M., E.S.), Danish Multiple Sclerosis Centre, Department of Neurology, University of Copenhagen (M.M.), and Danish Multiple Sclerosis Research Centre, Department of Neurology, Neuroscience Centre (M.M.), Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark; Institute of Regional Health Research (E.S.), University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark, and National Institute of Public Health (E.S.), University of Southern Denmark, Copenhagen; Department of Neurology (E.S.), Multiple Sclerosis Clinic of Southern Jutland (Sønderborg, Vejle, Esbjerg), Sønderborg, Denmark; Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Clinical Institute (N.K.-H.), University of Aarhus, Aarhus, Denmark; and Channing Division of Network Medicine (A.A.), Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA.
Egon StenagerFrom the Department of Epidemiology Research (N.M.N., K.T.J., J.S., T.J.) and the Danish Centre for Neonatal Screening, Department for Congenital Disorders (D.M.H., M.L., A.C.), Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark; Departments of Nutrition (K.L.M., A.A.) and Epidemiology (A.A.), Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA; The Danish Multiple Sclerosis Registry (N.K.-H., M.M., E.S.), Danish Multiple Sclerosis Centre, Department of Neurology, University of Copenhagen (M.M.), and Danish Multiple Sclerosis Research Centre, Department of Neurology, Neuroscience Centre (M.M.), Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark; Institute of Regional Health Research (E.S.), University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark, and National Institute of Public Health (E.S.), University of Southern Denmark, Copenhagen; Department of Neurology (E.S.), Multiple Sclerosis Clinic of Southern Jutland (Sønderborg, Vejle, Esbjerg), Sønderborg, Denmark; Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Clinical Institute (N.K.-H.), University of Aarhus, Aarhus, Denmark; and Channing Division of Network Medicine (A.A.), Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA.
Alberto AscherioFrom the Department of Epidemiology Research (N.M.N., K.T.J., J.S., T.J.) and the Danish Centre for Neonatal Screening, Department for Congenital Disorders (D.M.H., M.L., A.C.), Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark; Departments of Nutrition (K.L.M., A.A.) and Epidemiology (A.A.), Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA; The Danish Multiple Sclerosis Registry (N.K.-H., M.M., E.S.), Danish Multiple Sclerosis Centre, Department of Neurology, University of Copenhagen (M.M.), and Danish Multiple Sclerosis Research Centre, Department of Neurology, Neuroscience Centre (M.M.), Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark; Institute of Regional Health Research (E.S.), University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark, and National Institute of Public Health (E.S.), University of Southern Denmark, Copenhagen; Department of Neurology (E.S.), Multiple Sclerosis Clinic of Southern Jutland (Sønderborg, Vejle, Esbjerg), Sønderborg, Denmark; Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Clinical Institute (N.K.-H.), University of Aarhus, Aarhus, Denmark; and Channing Division of Network Medicine (A.A.), Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA.
Harvard University · USUniversity of Copenhagen · DKUniversity of Southern Denmark · DKAarhus University · DKDanish Multiple Sclerosis Center · DK

Funding

Prospective Study of Vitamin D and Multiple SclerosisR01NS046635 · NINDS · HARVARD UNIVERSITY (SCH OF PUBLIC HLTH) · PI ASCHERIO, ALBERTO · 2004 to 2012
$3.0M
Vitamin D, Epstein-Barr virus infection, and cigarette smoking and risk of multipR01NS073633 · NINDS · HARVARD SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH · PI ASCHERIO, ALBERTO · 2011 to 2015
$2.6M
NINDS NIH HHS R01 NS046635NINDS NIH HHS R01 NS073633
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveAs previous research has suggested that exposure to vitamin D insufficiency in utero may have relevance for the risk of multiple sclerosis (MS), we aimed to examine the direct association between level of neonatal vitamin D and risk of MS.

methodsWe carried out a matched case-control study. Dried blood spots samples (DBSS) belonging to 521 patients with MS were identified in the Danish Newborn Screening Biobank. For every patient with MS, 1-2 controls with the same sex and birth date were retrieved from the Biobank (n = 972). Level of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25[OH]D) in the DBSS was measured using liquid chromatography tandem mass spectroscopy. The association between different levels of 25(OH)D and risk of MS was evaluated by odds ratios (OR) calculated in conditional logistic regression models.

resultsWe observed that lower levels of 25(OH)D in neonates were associated with an increased risk of MS. In the analysis by quintiles, MS risk was highest among individuals in the bottom quintile (<20.7 nmol/L) and lowest among those in the top quintile of 25(OH)D (≥48.9 nmol/L), with an OR for top vs bottom of 0.53 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.36-0.78). In the analysis treating 25(OH)D as a continuous variable, a 25 nmol/L increase in neonatal 25(OH)D resulted in a 30% reduced risk of MS (OR 0.70, 95% CI 0.57-0.84).

conclusionLow concentrations of neonatal vitamin D are associated with an increased risk of MS. In light of the high prevalence of vitamin D insufficiency among pregnant women, our observation may have importance for public health.

Indexed as

AdultCase-Control StudiesCommunity Health PlanningDenmarkFemaleHumansInfant, NewbornMaleMultiple SclerosisMultivariate AnalysisOdds RatioParentsVitamin DVitamin D Deficiency25-hydroxyvitamin DVitamin D

Identifiers

PMID27903815
PMCPMC5200855
OpenAlexW2559277664

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