Vitamin DNEW2026-10

Combined Association of High-Sensitivity C-Reactive Protein and Vitamin D with Short-Term Functional Outcomes in Acute Ischemic Stroke.

Choi Seongmin, Rho Yunjung, Kim Min-Su, Yoo Myung Chul et al. — Nutrients

Summary

This study explored how vitamin D levels, combined with a marker of inflammation (hsCRP), relate to recovery after an acute ischemic stroke. Researchers found that patients with both low vitamin D and high inflammation had significantly worse short-term physical and cognitive outcomes. This suggests that these two factors together could help identify stroke patients at higher risk for a less favorable recovery.

AI-generated summary — read the original

Key points

Stroke patients with higher inflammation tended to have lower vitamin D levels.
The combination of low vitamin D and high inflammation was linked to significantly worse short-term recovery after an acute ischemic stroke.
These two factors together could help identify stroke patients at higher risk for poorer physical and cognitive outcomes.
Further research is needed to see if vitamin D supplementation could improve recovery in these high-risk individuals.

What the study looked at

This study investigated whether vitamin D levels, when considered alongside a marker of inflammation called high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), could provide useful information about how well patients recover shortly after experiencing an acute ischemic stroke. Researchers wanted to understand if these two factors, separately or together, predict short-term physical and mental recovery. The research involved looking back at the medical records of 192 patients who had been admitted to a single hospital with a confirmed acute ischemic stroke. The patients' stroke severity was assessed upon admission. At the time of discharge, their physical abilities (like balance and hand function), cognitive function, and overall disability were evaluated using standard clinical scales. The study then analyzed the relationship between these recovery outcomes and the patients' initial blood levels of vitamin D and hsCRP. The findings showed a clear connection: patients with higher levels of inflammation (high hsCRP) generally had lower vitamin D levels. Importantly, those who had both high inflammation and a vitamin D deficiency (very low vitamin D) were at the highest risk for poor short-term recovery, experiencing worse physical and cognitive outcomes. The risk of poor recovery increased progressively as the number of these adverse markers (high hsCRP and low vitamin D) increased.

Dietary takeaway

While this study suggests a link between vitamin D deficiency and poorer stroke recovery, it's important to remember that this is just one study and doesn't prove cause and effect. However, ensuring adequate vitamin D intake through foods like fatty fish (salmon, mackerel), fortified dairy products, or sun exposure is generally beneficial for overall health. If you have concerns about your vitamin D levels, consult with a healthcare professional for personalized advice.

Abstract

: Whether high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) and vitamin D (Vit D) provide complementary prognostic information for acute ischemic stroke is unclear. We examined the separate and joint associations of serum hsCRP and Vit D levels with short-term functional outcomes after acute ischemic stroke. : We retrospectively analyzed 192 patients with brain magnetic resonance imaging-confirmed acute ischemic stroke admitted to a single tertiary center. Stroke severity at admission was graded using the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale. Physical and cognitive recovery were assessed using the Berg Balance Scale (BBS), Manual Function Test (MFT), Korean Mini-Mental State Examination (K-MMSE), and Korean version of the modified Barthel Index, while disability was graded using the modified Rankin Scale (mRS) at discharge. : Among 192 patients stratified into low- (<1.0 mg/L, = 76), moderate- (1.0-3.0 mg/L, = 57), and high- (>3.0 mg/L, = 59) hsCRP groups, serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D fell stepwise as hsCRP rose, and high hsCRP was independently associated with poorer BBS, MFT, K-MMSE, and mRS outcomes. Patients with both high hsCRP and Vit D deficiency (<20 ng/mL) formed the highest-risk group (adjusted odds ratio up to 12.54), with the risk increasing stepwise as the number of adverse markers increased. No significant multiplicative interaction was observed, whereas a significant additive interaction was found only for cognitive impairment. : Patients with both elevated hsCRP and Vit D deficiency showed the highest odds of poor short-term outcomes. A simple count of these adverse markers may help identify patients at higher risk after acute ischemic stroke and may help define a subgroup for further evaluation in prospective intervention trials of Vit D supplementation.

View on PubMed →DOI: 10.3390/nu18193244