Low vitamin D levels linked to more severe MS symptoms

[MSUK]

Low blood levels of vitamin D are associated with an increased number of brain lesions and signs of a more active disease state in people with multiple sclerosis (MS), a new study finds, suggesting a potential link between intake of the vitamin and the risk of longer-term disability from the autoimmune disorder.

But researchers, led by Ellen M. Mowry, M.D., M.C.R., an assistant professor of neurology at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and principal investigator of a multicenter clinical trial of vitamin D supplementation in MS patients, caution that more research is needed to determine if large doses of vitamin D help without harming MS patients.

Mowry's study, conducted mostly when she worked at the University of California, San Francisco, shows a strong correlation between vitamin D levels in the body (measured through blood samples) and the characteristic brain lesions of MS as measured with MRI images. Results were described in the August issue of Annals of Neurology. ... Read More - http://www.msrc.co.uk/index.cfm/fuseact ... ageid/1334

[daverestonvirginia]

Great to see positive results from studies, but how much longer to we have to read "caution that more research is needed to determine if large doses of vitamin D help without harming MS patients". I have been taking 10,000IUs a day for seven years now. I do get my Vit. D levels tested once a year. I believe it has helped me stay symptom free. Doctor's should be telling people with MS about Vit. D now.

[Leonard]

Low blood levels of vitamin D are associated with an increased number of brain lesions and signs of a more active disease state in people with multiple sclerosis (MS), a new study finds, suggesting a potential link between intake of the vitamin and the risk of longer-term disability from the autoimmune disorder.

But researchers, led by Ellen M. Mowry, M.D., M.C.R., an assistant professor of neurology at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and principal investigator of a multicenter clinical trial of vitamin D supplementation in MS patients, caution that more research is needed to determine if large doses of vitamin D help without harming MS patients.

Mowry's study, conducted mostly when she worked at the University of California, San Francisco, shows a strong correlation between vitamin D levels in the body (measured through blood samples) and the characteristic brain lesions of MS as measured with MRI images. Results were described in the August issue of Annals of Neurology. ... Read More - http://www.msrc.co.uk/index.cfm/fuseact ... ageid/1334

I think the issue is more complicated than that. Let me explain:

You might ask yourself the question whether the low vitamin D "causes" or is related to some causal factor for the characteristic brain lesions (and disease activity) or, alternatively, whether a more severe disease path (with more lesions) causes the vitamin D to drop.
I think it is the latter: when there is more disease activity, typically the active 1,25 D is very high, and there is a regulatory path back that pushes down the 25 OH vit D measured in the blood. I also think it is for protection..

I further think that supplementation of Vit D works mainly on the gut flora, in fact it starts to behave or produce natural anti-biotics that get the gut flora better balanced.

There is a general agreement that vitamin D has some relation to MS. But I think the mistake that is made is to believe that there is one underlying concept. I think that is fundamentally wrong; there are at least three different underlying concepts. More info on:
http://www.thisisms.com/forum/general-d ... 15188.html

[chico]

Your speculation about the cause and treatment of MS is all very fine.
However, I do strongly recommend everyone else to keep a close eye on their vit-d levels.
The evidence that vit-d can prevent and modulate the disease course in MS is just too strong to be ignored (as you basicly suggest)

Here are a few random studies on vit-d supplmentation in MS.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22783368

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22362918

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22289117

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22888143#

[mrbarlow]

Great to see positive results from studies, but how much longer to we have to read "caution that more research is needed to determine if large doses of vitamin D help without harming MS patients". I have been taking 10,000IUs a day for seven years now. I do get my Vit. D levels tested once a year. I believe it has helped me stay symptom free. Doctor's should be telling people with MS about Vit. D now.

100% agree. When I was diagnosed I got myself on 1000iu a day. A few weeks later my GP called me to say take 2000iu. I now take 10,000 and almost two years down the line no relapses and generally feel very well (touch wood)

[NHE]

100% agree. When I was diagnosed I got myself on 1000iu a day. A few weeks later my GP called me to say take 2000iu. I now take 10,000 and almost two years down the line no relapses and generally feel very well (touch wood)

Just curious, what are your 25-OH vitamin D3 test results?

[daverestonvirginia]

I stay around 150nmol/L.

[mrbarlow]

100% agree. When I was diagnosed I got myself on 1000iu a day. A few weeks later my GP called me to say take 2000iu. I now take 10,000 and almost two years down the line no relapses and generally feel very well (touch wood)

Just curious, what are your 25-OH vitamin D3 test results?

Last test was December 2011 - I was 224 NMOL (a bit high I know) . Living in Saudi Arabia then and sunbathing a lot. Reduced my supplements slightly and now live in Australia but not so much sun exposure. I now take 10,000iu a day and nothing if Im out in the sun. Will get tested again at the end of the year.