Vitamin D for prevention of multiple sclerosis

The Facts:
* It is believed that vitamin D is a powerful immunomodulator that may reduce the risk of multiple sclerosis (MS).
* Analysis of 257 MS patients in the US Army (each matched to 2 healthy controls) found that increasing levels of vitamin D were associated with a reduced risk of MS in White patients.
* The inverse association between vitamin D levels and MS risk was particularly strong before the age of 20 years.

Shaun’s comment: MS is a disease where there are many scars on the fatty coatings of nerves, causing problems with the electrical conduction in the nerves. It is thought that the underlying cause is the body’s own immune system. In this study, blood samples from people with MS in the US Army were compared to similar people without the disease. It was found that high blood levels of vitamin D were associated with a decreased chance of developing MS. It is too early to say whether people should take vitamin D to prevent MS, but the results will provide researchers with useful clues for future research into MS prevention and treatment.

Study reference:
http://jama.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/abstract/296/23/2832