What is MS?

What is MS?

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune inflammatory disease in which the fatty myelin sheaths around the axons of the brain and spinal cord are damaged, resulting in demyelination and scarring. There is a wide range of symptoms including: loss of sensitivity, tingling, numbness, muscle weakness, muscle spasms, difficulty moving, poor coordination, imbalance, problems speaking or swallowing, visual problems, fatigue, acute or chronic pain, and bladder pain. and difficulties in the intestines. Cognitive impairment and emotional symptoms of depression or unstable moods are also common. Symptoms of MS usually appear in periods of acute episodes of deterioration (called relapses, seizures, or ‘fits’), in a gradual, gradual deterioration of neurological function. Symptoms vary, because the location and severity of each attack can be different, lasting for days, weeks, or months. These episodes alternate with periods of reduced or no symptoms (remission).

Does Vitamin D Help With MS?

Research suggests that there may be a link between vitamin D and MS. Low levels of vitamin D have been linked to an increased risk and activity of a variety of autoimmune diseases including multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes and inflammatory bowel disease. Studies have shown that vitamin D deficiency and deficiencies are common among people with multiple sclerosis.

The link between vitamin D and multiple sclerosis was first proposed after it was observed that there was an increase in the incidence of multiple sclerosis the further away from the equator. Vitamin D is produced naturally in the body when the skin is exposed to sunlight, especially rays in the ultraviolet B (UVB) light spectrum. MS relapse rates also increase in the winter, when there is less sunlight and people tend to have lower levels of vitamin D. This pattern of MS cases with increasing latitude and the winter season suggests that UV exposure may provide protection from MS.

The National MS Society was founded in 1946 and strives to stop MS in its tracks and end MS for good. They provide a wealth of knowledge about the disease and are an important funding source for many MS studies, including research on MS and vitamin D. D has been associated with a lower risk of developing multiple sclerosis.

Another study of more than 187,000 women looking at the relationship between vitamin D intake and the development of multiple sclerosis found that women who consumed more vitamin D had a 33% lower risk of developing MS compared to those who consumed less, and women who they ate. Vitamin D supplementation reduced the risk of MS by 41% compared to those who did not take the supplement.

Some studies have suggested that vitamin D can help manage autoimmune diseases such as MS due to the role that vitamin D plays in regulating immune and inflammatory responses in the body. Vitamin D has been shown to modulate the activation of regulatory T cells to support the activity of the immune system, while also preventing the overactive response characteristic of autoimmune diseases.

Can Vitamin D Help Treat Multiple Sclerosis Symptoms?

Research reveals that sun exposure and vitamin D levels are linked to the development of multiple sclerosis disability and that increased vitamin D levels can help manage symptoms of multiple sclerosis. The length of time between relapses.

Vitamin D is best known for the role it plays in bone health. Vitamin D enhances the absorption of calcium, which is essential for building and strengthening bones, and interacts directly with genes related to the immune system. MS increases the risk of falls, bone fractures, and osteoporosis. Maintaining vitamin D levels can help support bone health and strength.

One study in the Netherlands suggested that for people with MS, increasing vitamin D might reduce the frequency and severity of their symptoms. In this study, doubling the level of vitamin D was associated with a 27% reduction in the risk of recurrence of MS. Another study looking at 110 patients with MS found that each 10 nmol/L increase in the level of vitamin D in the blood was associated with a 12% reduced risk of relapse. This study also concluded that raising vitamin D levels by 50 nmol/L can reduce the risk of relapse by up to 50%. 

A study by researchers from the Harvard School of Public Health found that low levels of vitamin D early in the disease course is a strong risk factor for long-term increased activity and progression of MS. Multiple studies have found a significant association between lower levels of vitamin D and increased severity of multiple sclerosis as measured by the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS). Neurological examination and the patient’s ability to walk.

In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, patients who took vitamin D3 as an additional supplement to treat multiple sclerosis experienced a reduction in the number of brain lesions and a marginal decrease in disability accumulation. In a 5-year longitudinal cohort study of MS, researchers examined the relationship between vitamin D status and brain lesions and found that higher serum vitamin D levels were associated with decreased brain lesion activity. All of these studies support the idea that vitamin D can help manage MS symptoms, reduce disease severity, and reduce the number of relapses.

Can Vitamin D Deficiency Mimic MS?

Both vitamin D deficiency and multiple sclerosis have a wide range of symptoms, some of which overlap between the two conditions. Vitamin D deficiency can lead to joint and bone pain, bone loss, weak bones, and numbness. Vitamin D deficiency can also cause muscle aches and weakness, get sick frequently, fatigue, and worsen mental health.

Among other symptoms, multiple sclerosis can lead to numbness, muscle weakness, muscle spasms, fatigue, cognitive impairment, and emotional symptoms of depression or unstable moods. These are all symptoms that can be associated with a vitamin D deficiency as well. If you experience any of the above symptoms, please see your doctor for a diagnosis and treatment plan.

How does vitamin D affect the pregnancy of patients with multiple sclerosis?

Studies show that high levels of vitamin D in mothers can reduce the risk of multiple sclerosis in the offspring. A study that looked at a mother’s vitamin D level during pregnancy found that the risk of developing multiple sclerosis was 90% higher in children who were vitamin D deficient. Compared to children whose mothers were not deficient.

 Another study that looked at the vitamin D level of birth for 521 MS patients and 972 controls using data from the Danish Multiple Sclerosis Registry and the Danish Newborn Screening Biobank, found that those in the high-risk group for MS had the lowest vitamin D levels. Those in the group with the lowest risk of developing multiple sclerosis had the highest levels of vitamin D. These findings show that during pregnancy, vitamin D deficiency may increase the risk of developing multiple sclerosis in the offspring.

Can Vitamin D reverse MS?

While vitamin D cannot cure multiple sclerosis, studies have shown that increasing your vitamin D level can help slow the progression of the disease. Some studies have also suggested that vitamin D may help prevent MS relapse and reduce the severity of attacks.

Since it is common for people with MS to have low levels of vitamin D, and higher levels of vitamin D have been linked to better MS outcomes, it is important that people with MS take steps to maintain an adequate level of vitamin D. . Restoring vitamin D levels to a healthy range has been shown to help patients with autoimmune diseases.

How Much Vitamin D Should Multiple Sclerosis Patients Take?

Among the medical community, there is debate about the best way to get vitamin D. Some doctors recommend oral supplements, but there are a variety of reasons why vitamin D pills may not be the best choice. Oral vitamin D supplements are not effective for a surprisingly large number of people, and they do not provide the same health benefits as exposure to light. To find out more about this topic,

More research is needed to determine the best form of vitamin D for MS and the recommended vitamin D protocol for managing multiple sclerosis. Vitamin D dosage recommendations vary widely among the medical community.

The Institute of Medicine (IOM) recommends that the dietary allowance of vitamin D be 600 international units (IU) per day. This recommendation is based on what is needed to prevent rickets and osteoporosis, not what is required to influence the incidence or severity of MS. Many vitamin D researchers disagree with this recommendation and say the IOM recommended allowance is not enough to prevent deficiency or support bone health. In general, 4,000 IU or less per day is considered safe, as long as your blood values ​​are monitored. It is important to avoid excessive doses of oral vitamin D. If the intake of vitamin D is too high, it can cause high levels of calcium in the blood and potentially dangerous consequences.

Getting vitamin D from light allows your body to self-regulate vitamin D production and achieve what it needs to stay healthy, without the risk of overdose or toxicity. Unlike oral supplements, you cannot overdose on the vitamin D3 that your skin produces. If you have enough vitamin D, your body will produce less.