This Is MS Multiple Sclerosis Community: Knowledge & Support

This study appears to strongly reinforce the notion that vitamin D levels are closely associated with the amount of disability in MS:


1: J Neurol. 2007 Apr 11; [Epub ahead of print] Links
Vitamin D levels in people with multiple sclerosis and community controls in Tasmania, Australia.van der Mei IA, Ponsonby AL, Dwyer T, Blizzard L, Taylor BV, Kilpatrick T, Butzkueven H, McMichael AJ.
Menzies Research Institute, Private Bag 23, Hobart, Tasmania, 7001, Australia, Ingrid.vanderMei@utas.edu.au.

BACKGROUND: Adequate 25(OH)D levels are required to prevent adverse effects on bone health. Population-based data on factors associated with 25(OH)D levels of people with MS have been lacking. OBJECTIVES: To examine the prevalence and determinants of vitamin D insufficiency in a population-based sample of MS cases and controls, and to compare 25(OH)D status between MS cases and controls, taking into account case disability. METHODS: We conducted a population based case-control study in Tasmania, Australia (latitude 41-43 degrees S) on 136 prevalent cases with MS confirmed by magnetic resonance imaging and 272 community controls, matched on sex and year of birth. Measurements included serum 25(OH)D, sun exposure, skin type, dietary vitamin D intake and disability including EDSS. RESULTS: A high prevalence of vitamin D insufficiency was found in MS cases and controls. Among MS cases, increasing disability was strongly associated with lower levels of 25(OH)D and with reduced sun exposure. Cases with higher disability (EDSS > 3) were more likely to have vitamin D insufficiency than controls (OR = 3.07 (1.37, 6.90) for 25(OH)D </= 40 nmol/l), but cases with low disability were not (OR = 0.87 (0.41, 1.86)). CONCLUSION: The strong associations between disability, sun exposure and vitamin D status indicate that reduced exposure to the sun, related to higher disability, may contribute to the high prevalence of vitamin D insufficiency found in this population-based MS case sample. Active detection of vitamin D insufficiency among people with MS and intervention to restore vitamin D status to adequate levels should be considered as part of the clinical management of MS.

PMID: 17426912 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Great post TH

I think this information is critical because it provides another significant chunk in the evidence relating vitamin D insufficiency and MS. More so it lends credence to the use of vitamin D for ongoing disease intervention.

We’ve seen a wealth of data demonstrating that vitamin D is very effective for prevention of MS and with studies like this it becomes evident that what vitamin D does to prevent MS is quite relevant in interrupting the active disease process. Envision if you will how effective the use of vitamin D will be if it is taken if high enough doses (i.e. 4,000 IU/d) rather than an ambient amount from incidental UVR exposure or multi-vitamin pill intake.

Cheers
Nick