Lower Vitamin D increases multiple sclerosis risk

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Researchers from McGill University in Canada have found that there is a link between Vitamin D and an increased risk of multiple sclerosis.

According to Newsmax, Vitamin D deficiency has also been associated with MS, but there was never any proof that the level of Vitamin D in the body could lead to the development of the autoimmune disease.

However, Brent Richards, lead researcher of the study, and his colleagues have been able to circumnavigate the problems and experiences in previous studies, which compared Vitamin D levels in the body and MS risk.

To overcome the problems, Richards and his fellow researchers focused on analyzing the genes connected to vitamin D levels in the body. For the study, which was published in PLOS Medicine, the Canadian researchers compared a pool of 14,498 patients with MS and more than 24,000 people living without the disease.

According to the study's data, decreased levels of vitamin D can increase the risk of developing MS two-fold. Benjamin Jacobs, director of Children's Service at the Royal National Orthopedic Hospital in London, explained:

"The results show that if a baby is born with genes associated with vitamin D deficiency, they are twice as likely as other babies to develop MS as an adult."

Jacobs went on to say that the study's data will be able to help doctors come up with better treatment methods for MS and may even think of some prevention methods.

The authors of the study concluded that more trials need to be conducted to assess the benefits of giving vitamin D supplements for patients who have MS or at risk of developing the disease.

The scientists still have not been able to prove if low levels of vitamin D can actually cause MS, but there is evidence that decreased vitamin D levels in the body has been genetically linked to the development of MS.

University Herald defines MS as an autoimmune disease that attacks the nerves in the brain and spinal cord. In addition, the disease usually surfaces between ages 20 to 40. There is no cure for MS and the main cause of the disease is not known as well.

According to the video below, most people have decreased levels of vitamin D. Besides sunlight, there are other sources of vitamin D in the world. Web MD states that the top three super foods for vitamins include wild-caught Salmon, Mackerel, and mushrooms that have been exposed to ultraviolet light.

Other sources of vitamin D include cod liver oil, canned tuna in water, oiled sardines, milk, yogurts, beef or calk liver, cheese and egg yolks.