Numerous studies of MS have shown a correlation between disease frequency and geographic location, with the general rule being that as a person gets further away from the equator, their MS risk rises. This has often been reduced to sun exposure, with one of the more obvious implications being that sunlight causes the body to create Vitamin D--25-hydroxyvitamin D-- and therefore Vitamin D just might have a protective affect against MS.
A new study released yesterday provides compelling statistics behind that claim, saying in short that Vitamin D seems to reduce the risk of developing MS in Caucasians.. While the study does not make any claims about people who already have MS benefiting from Vitamin D supplementation...
Story continues, please click 'read more'...
...understanding how the disease develops is a very useful, if not critical, aspect on researching effective treatments in a rational and efficient manner.
The study examined nearly 7 million-- yes, million, United States military personnel. Of these multitudes, about 260 eventually developed MS. These select few had their blood analyzed and compared to a similar population of those who did not develop MS-- to look for differences that might explain why or how the disease came about in the afflicted. What researchers found is that the risk of developing MS fell as levels of Vitamin D rose! To put some numbers behind these assertions, the risk of MS was reduced by over 60% in those that had the highest amount of Vitamin D in their blood. These numbers only held true for Caucasians-- a similar pattern was not seen in minorities. Also, the protective effect of Vitamin D was most strongly seen in those under 20 years of age.
"This converges with a body of experimental evidence and other studies that strongly suggest that vitamin D could be truly protective," Alberto Ascherio, associate professor of nutrition and epidemiology at Harvard School of Public Health and the lead researcher, was quoted in Scientific American. Of course-- of course-- he cautioned that further studies need to be done (This is MS readers know full well that studies are essentially *never* claimed to be definitive), but, "If it is true, the implication could be enormous for MS prevention."
How does Vitamin D wield its affect? The answer is not clear, but the vitamin's role in calcium absorption is well understood, and it seems to have a role in regulating the immune system as well.
Again, there are no implications drawn here for what happens to people who *already have* MS and take Vitamin D, but given that at least some component of MS is likely genetic, it might be wise to discuss with your doctor whether direct relatives of those with MS should make sure they're getting enough of this potentially powerful Vitamin.
Credits:
Journal of American Medicine
http://jama.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/abstract/296/23/2832
Scientific American, Vitamin D may cut multiple sclerosis risk, study finds
http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?chanID=sa003&articleID=B31F0C758BB498B5D56B5FEA80F313A7
