In 2006, a US military study did a GOOD perspective study on MS that involved taking blood samples some 4-5 years prior to the start of their MS. In subjects under 20, high vitamin D levels offered a high rate of immunity form the disease Odds ratio = 0.09 which means perhaps 1/11th less likely to get it. A March 2008 good perspective study found a susceptible gene type with persistent Epstein Barr (mono) high titers had a wooping 9 times risk of getting MS later.
Vitamin D – nowhere to be had but vital
Serum 25-Hydroxyvitamin D Levels and Risk of Multiple Sclerosis
Kassandra L. Munger; Lynn I. Levin; Bruce W. Hollis; et al.
JAMA. 2006;296(23):2832-2838
Article here
In general, high Vitamin D levels cut your MS chances in half but may be much more if less than 20 years old.
In a Norwegian study, adolescents age 16-20 cut their risk in half of getting MS if they had increased outdoor activity or ate fish 3 times/week (high in Vitamin D).
Outdoor activities and diet in childhood and adolescence relate to MS risk above the Arctic Circle
Journal of Neurology
M. T. Kampman, T. Wilsgaard and S. I. Mellgren,
Volume 254, Number 4 / 2007; 1432-1459
There is very little Vit D from sunlight from October – March in Canada. A Calgary study found 100% of people were deficient some time of the year if not on replacement. The 400 units/day recommended will not give appreciable levels. 1,000 – 2,000 u/ day would be needed for that and is perfectly safe.
Gene type combined with persistent mono bad news:
Neurology. 2008 Mar 25;70(13 Pt 2):1113-8.
Integrating risk factors: HLA-DRB1*1501 and Epstein-Barr virus in multiple sclerosis.
De Jager PL, Simon KC, Munger KL, Rioux JD, Hafler DA, Ascherio A.
HLA-DR15 by itself did not increase risk, but this gene type plus high antibody titers (anti-EBNA-1) were related to a 9 fold risk of MS.
Comment – adolescents can be checked for Vit D through a 25-OH-Vit D blood level. Almost all patients I have checked are in the low range. I have a feeling that most chronic diseases are adolescent.:
Osteoporosis – the most bone you will ever have is at 21 – not got much then- well, it’s all down hill from there.
Lung disease – nicotine is so addicting for adolescence that if they find it relaxing on the first cigarette, they are often addicted thereafter.
Obesity and inadequate exercise are adolescent habits. I see in the US obesity in children is now being considered an epidemic. This way of life leads to metabolic disease, heart disease, hypertension, and diabetes and downhill from there.
Am interested in an comments. MS is a very painful disease and anything to stop it would be great.
On the topic of Vitamin D, the importance of vitamin D in the development of cancer was further confirmed by a Sylvia Chistakos, Ph.D., of the UMDNJ-New Jersey Medical School. Her research, published in The Journal of Biological Chemistry, showed that the active form of vitamin D induces the creation of a protein that can inhibit the growth of breast cancer cells.