Serum 25-Hydroxyvitamin D and Neurological Disability in Multiple Sclerosis

Vitamin D is hypothesized to play a role in the immunopathology and progression of multiple sclerosis (MS), yet its association with neurological disability remains uncertain, particularly in North African populations.We conducted a cross-sectional study involving 369 adult MS patients across two tertiary neurology centers in Western Libya. Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D \[25(OH)D\] levels and Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) scores were collected. Pearson correlation, ANOVA, and multivariable linear regression were used to assess associations between vitamin D and disability, adjusting for age, BMI, disease duration, and physical activity. Missing data and outliers were handled systematically using validated R and Python workflows.