Dietary calcium as a supplement to vitamin D compound treatment of multiple sclerosis

Abstract

A method of and composition for diminishing multiple sclerosis symptoms are disclosed. In one embodiment, the method comprises the step of administrating an amount of calcium and a vitamin D compound effect to diminish multiple sclerosis symptoms. In another embodiment, the invention is a pharmaceutical composition comprising an amount of calcium and vitamin D compound effective to diminish multiple sclerosis symptoms.

We claim:  
     
         1 . A method of treating multiple sclerosis patients, comprising the step of administering an amount of calcium supplement and an amount of a vitamin D compound effective to diminish multiple sclerosis symptoms, wherein the amount of calcium is effective to enhance the effects of the vitamin D compound administration.  
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the amount of calcium supplement is between 0.5 and 2 g per patient per day.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the amount of calcium is at least 1 g.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the calcium and vitamin D compound administration is simultaneous.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the vitamin D compound is selected from the group consisting of 1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D 3  (1,25-(OH) 2 D 3 ), 19-nor-1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D 2  (19-nor-1,25-(OH) 2 D 3 ), 24-homo-22-dehydro-22E-1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D 3  (24-homo-22-dehydro-22E-1,25-(OH)  2 D 3 ),1,25-dihydroxy-24(E)-dehydro-24-homo-vitamin D 3  (1,25-(OH) 2 -24-homo D 3 ), 19-nor-1,25-dihydroxy-21-epi-vitamin D 3  (19-nor-1,25-(OH) 2 -21-epi-D 3 ), 1α hydroxyvitamin D 3  and 1α hydroxyvitamin D 2 .  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5  wherein the vitamin D compound is 1,25-(OH) 2 D 3 .  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the vitamin D compound has the formula  
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
       wherein X 1  and X 2  are each selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and acyl; wherein Y 1  and Y 2  can be H, or one can be 0-aryl, 0-alkyl, aryl, alkyl of 1-4 carbons, taken together to form an alkene having the structure of B 1  where B 1  and B 2  can be selected  
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
       from the group consisting of H, alkyl of 1-4 carbons and aryl, and can have a β or α configuration; Z 1 ═Z 2 ═H or Z 1  and Z 2  together are ═CH 2 ; and wherein R is an alkyl, hydroxyalkyl or fluoroalkyl group, or R may represent the following side chain:  
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
       wherein (a) may have an S or R configuration, R 1  represents hydrogen, hydroxy or O-acyl, R 2  and R 3  are each selected from the group consisting of alkyl, hydroxyalkyl and fluoralkyl, or, when taken together represent the group —(CH 2 ) m — wherein m is an integer having a value of from 2 to 5, R 4  is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, hydroxy, fluorine, O-acyl, alkyl, hydroxyalkyl and fluoralkyl, wherein if R 5  is hydroxyl or fluoro, R 4  must be hydrogen or alkyl, R 5  is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, hydroxy, fluorine, alkyl, hydroxyalkyl and fluoroalkyl, or R 4  and R 5  taken together represent double-bonded oxygen, R 6  and R 7  taken together form a carbon-carbon double bond, R 8  may be H or CH 3 , and wherein n is an integer having a value of from 1 to 5, and wherein the carbon at any one of positions 20, 22, or 23 in the side chain may be replaced by an O, S, or N atom.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the calcium is in a form selected from the group consisting of calcium carbonate, calcium acetate, calcium citrate and calcium phosphate.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the patient is female.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the calcium is in a form selected from the group consisting of calcium carbonate, calcium acetate, calcium citrate and calcium phosphate.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the calcium and vitamin D compound administration is simultaneous.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the amount of calcium supplement is between 0.5 and 2 g per patient per day.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the amount of calcium is at least 1 g.  
     
     
         14 . A pharmaceutical. composition comprising an amount of calcium and vitamin D compound, wherein the amount of calcium maximizes the effectiveness of the vitamin D compound to diminish multiple sclerosis symptoms.  
     
     
         15 . The pharmaceutical compound of  claim 14  wherein the vitamin D compound is between 0.5 μg and 10 μg and the calcium is between 0.5 and 2 g.  
     
     
         16 . The pharmaceutical composition of  claim 14  wherein the vitamin D compound is 1,25-(OH) 2 D 3 .  
     
     
         17 . The pharmaceutical composition of  claim 14  where the vitamin D compound is 19 nor 1,25 dihydroxyvitamin D 2 .  
     
     
         18 . The pharmaceutical composition of  claim 14  where the vitamin D compound is 1α dihydroxyvitamin D 3 .  
     
     
         19 . The pharmaceutical composition of  claim 14  where the vitamin D compound is 1α dihydroxyvitamin D 2 .  
     
     
         20 . The pharmaceutical composition of  claim 14  where the vitamin D compound is a compound selected from the group consisting of 1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D 3  (1,25-(OH) 2 D 3 ), 19-nor-1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D 2  (19-nor-1,25-(OH) 2 D 3 ), 24-homo-22-dehydro-22E-1a,25-dihydroxyvitamin D 3  (24-homo-22-dehydro-22E-1,25-(OH) 2 D 3 ), 1,25-dihydroxy-24(E)-dehydro-24-homo-vitamin D 3  (1,25-(OH) 2 -24-homo D 3 ), 19-nor-1,25-dihydroxy-21-epi-vitamin D 3  (19-nor-1,25-(OH) 2 -21-epi-D 3 ), 1α hydroxyvitamin D 3  and 1α hydroxyvitamin D 2 .  
     
     
         21 . The pharmaceutical composition of  claim 14  wherein the calcium is in a form selected from the group consisting of calcium carbonate, calcium acetate, calcium citrate and calcium phosphate.