Possible association between vitamin D deficiency and restless legs syndrome

• Published in: Neuropsychiatric disease and treatment 2014-01, Vol.10 (default), p.953-958
• Main Authors: Oran, Mustafa, Unsal, Cuneyt, Albayrak, Yakup, Tulubas, Feti, Oguz, Keriman, Avci, Okan, Turgut, Nilda, Alp, Recep, Gurel, Ahmet
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 25-Hydroxyvitamin D; Body mass index; Complications and side effects; Electromyography; Original Research; Restless legs syndrome; Risk factors; Sleep disorders; Studies; Vitamin D; Vitamin D deficiency
• ISSN: 1176-6328; 1178-2021; 1176-6328; 1178-2021
• DOI: 10.2147/ndt.s63599

Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a distressing sleep disorder that occurs worldwide. Although there have been recent developments in understanding the pathophysiology of RLS, the exact mechanism of the disease has not been well elucidated. An increased prevalence of neurologic and psychiatric diseases involving dopaminergic dysfunction in vitamin D-deficient patients led us to hypothesize that vitamin D deficiency might result in dopaminergic dysfunction and consequently, the development of RLS (in which dopaminergic dysfunction plays a pivotal role). Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between vitamin D deficiency and RLS. One hundred and fifty-five consecutive patients, 18-65 years of age, who were admitted to the Department of Internal Medicine with musculoskeletal symptoms and who subsequently underwent neurological and electromyography (EMG) examination by the same senior neurologist, were included in this study. The patients were divided into two groups according to serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) (a vitamin D metabolite used as a measure of vitamin D status) level: 36 patients with serum 25(OH)D levels ≥20 ng/mL comprised the normal vitamin D group, and 119 patients with serum 25(OH)D levels