The connection between vitamin D deficiency and the risk of
acquiring Multiple Sclerosis was discovered more than 30 years
ago.
Scientists had noticed that the incidence of MS correlated positively
with geographical latitude and negatively with the
amount of vitamin D in the diet. The latitude effect was also
explainable in terms of vitamin D, since the body synthesizes
vitamin D in the skin in response to sunlight, which is more
plentiful near the equator than at higher latitudes.
Since then, almost 200 medical research articles have been
published on the subject. The correlation is firmly established,
and studies of vitamin D usage have shown that supplementation
leads to MS prevention
and to fewer MS relapses.
It would make sense, then, for vitamin D to be widely
promoted for MS prevention. Supplement companies in the U.S. are
forbidden
by U.S. Food and Drug Administration to promote vitamins for
disease prevention, regardless of how effective they are. But
what have the medical profession and government health
agencies done to promote vitamin D for MS prevention? Essentially
nothing.
In fact, they have in effect discouraged it. After 30 years of
accumulating evidence that vitamin D is an effective preventative
and treatment for MS, we still have medical people making
statements in the media such as “There's not enough evidence yet
to recommend that...”;
and the U.S. government’s recommended RDA for vitamin D has been too
low by at least a factor of 20!
Is it any wonder that some observers consider the government to be
actively working to harm the public health rather than
to improve it?
The latest news about vitamin D and MS sheds some light on
how this vitamin works at the molecular level.
The pieces of the puzzle are falling into place nicely, and there’s no
reason to delay making use of our knowledge.
Researchers have identified a gene that is associated with the risk of
acquiring MS, and have shown that vitamin D influences
the activity of this gene.
References
[1]
Comparative epidemiology of multiple sclerosis and dental
caries.
J Epidemiol Community Health. 1978 Sep; 32(3):155-65
[2]
Vitamin D supplementation, 25-hydroxyvitamin D
concentrations, and safety.
Am J Clin Nutr. 1999 May; 69(5):842-56
[3]
Multiple sclerosis: decreased relapse rate through dietary
supplementation with calcium, magnesium and vitamin D.
Med Hypotheses. 1986 Oct; 21(2):193-200
[4]
Lack of Vitamin D Tied to Multiple Sclerosis
U.S. News website, 2006.12.19
[5]
Vitamin D May Cut Multiple Sclerosis Risk Study: Low Levels
of Vitamin D May Boost Multiple Sclerosis Gene Risk
WebMD Health News, 2009.02.09
