Vitamin D deficiency and increased inflammatory factor intercellular cell adhesion molecule-1 indicate severe leukoaraiosis in northern China

Abstract

Background and objective Commonly plaguing in the frigid zone of the world, vitamin D deficiency, as indicated by low levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D, exacerbated inflammatory responses and impaired endothelial function. Leukoaraiosis (LA) is a prevalent cause of cognitive dysfunction in the elderly and is potentially associated with inflammatory responses. This study aimed to investigate the impact of vitamin D on the severity of LA. Methods Patients with LA were categorized based on 3.0 T brain MRI findings into mild (N = 43), moderate (N = 40), or severe groups (N = 29) using the Fazekas scale (scoring 1-6). A control group consisting of 41 healthy individuals was included. Serum fibrinogen C, homocysteine, plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D, and intercellular cell adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) levels were measured using ELISA. Results All LA severity groups exhibited lower plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels compared to the control group, with a more pronounced decrease observed as LA severity increased. Low plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D was identified as an independent risk factor for LA (P < 0.05) according to Multiple logistic regression analysis. Additionally, a negative association was observed between 25-hydroxyvitamin D and vascular inflammatory factor ICAM-1. Conclusion Disease severity positively correlated with levels of the inflammatory marker ICAM-1, worsening as plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentration decreased. Low 25-hydroxyvitamin D emerged as an independent risk factor for LA, potentially exacerbating the inflammatory response. These findings suggest 25-hydroxyvitamin D supplementation as a potential therapeutic approach for LA.

Keywords

cerebral small vascular disease / degenerative disease / leukoaraiosis / white matter hyperintensities / lacunar infarction / 25-hydroxyvitamin D / ICAM-1 / fibrinogen-C / inflammatory factor / fazekas scale

Acknowledgements

We thank Medjaden Inc. for scientific editing of this manuscript.

Author contributions

Study design: Fan Y; Experiment implementation and statistical analysis: Guan J X, Yan C Q; Manuscript writing and revision: Guan J X; Technical support: Gan L; Sample collection: Hou B Y; Clinical data collection: Gan L; Table and figure preparation: Guan J X. All authors approved the final version of this manuscript.

Source of funding

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of Heilongjiang Province of China (No. LH2020H051), Key R&D projects of Natural Science Foundation of Heilongjiang Province (No. 2023ZX06C03) and Foundation of Harbin Science Technology Bureau of China (No. 2014RFQGJ042).

Ethical approval

This study received approval by the Institutional Ethics Committee of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University of China (KY2016-177 and KY2019-107).

Conflicts of interest

We have no conflicts of interest to this work.

Data availability statement

All data used during the study are available from the corresponding author by request.

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