THE POSSIBLE LINK BETWEEN VITAMIN D LEVELS AND RESTLESS LEG SYNDROME: A HOSPITAL-BASED CASE-CONTROL STUDY FROM KASHMIR, INDIA

Background & Objectives: Various pathophysiological mechanisms and risk factors have been identified in patients with restless leg syndrome and there exist other factors also that are yet to be identified and are under-researched. Evidence suggests a possible link between Vitamin D deficiency and Restless leg syndrome.The aim was to study the Vitamin D levels in patients diagnosed with RLS and to find a correlation between Vitamin D and RLS.

Methods: This was a case-control study carried out in the outpatient department of the Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences Kashmir.A total of 144 subjects were enrolled in the study. Fifty-one were diagnosed cases of RLS and 93 were healthy controls.The Vitamin D levels were analysed by the chemiluminescent immunoassay method in both cases as well as controls.The descriptive statistics were used for various socio-demographic and clinical variables.The data were analysed by chi-square test, t-test and multivariate logistic regression analysis.

Results: The vitamin D levels were significantly low in the RLS group in comparison to the control group. There was a significant correlation between vitamin D levels, vitamin D deficiency and restless leg syndrome (OR= 1.01, p-value 0.005 and OR= 5.40, p-value <0.0001 respectively).

Interpretation &conclusions: Vitamin D levels were low in patients with RLS. This signifies vitamin D may have some role in the pathophysiology of RLS.Vitamin D regulates the nervous system development and function therefore, its use can be considered in the management of RLS when other modalities cannot prove as a promising agent.