Vitamin D3 is a vitamin derived from sunshine and is known as cholecalciferol. The March 1971 issue of "Journal of the Neurological Sciences" notes that the first connection between sun exposure and multiple sclerosis was made in 1960 from observations that the disease is most prevalent in countries that receive the least amount of sunlight. Since that time, additional studies confirmed the observation, leading scientists to hypothesize that vitamin D3 deficiency may be a cause of multiple sclerosis. At present, vitamin D3 supplementation is not an officially sanctioned treatment for halting the disease.
D3 and Multiple Sclerosis
Vitamin D3 is metabolized in the kidneys and liver, and then sent to various parts of the body, where it helps build the tissues that compose the body's infrastructure. These include vessels to support communications between body parts and the brain. The pathways for these communications are wrapped in an insulating protein named myelin. In multiple sclerosis, myelin is malformed, creating communication problems. The April 2008 issue of "Minerva Medica" discusses the essential importance of D3 in myelin formation and its deficiency as a contributing factor in multiple sclerosis.
Ultraviolet Light
Because vitamin D3 is synthesized in human skin through sunlight exposure, researchers reporting in the February 2011 issue of "Neurology" investigated the link between sunshine exposure and the onset of multiple sclerosis. The researchers measured the amount of UV the participants were exposed to and found the range to be from 500 to over 6,000 kilojoules. Upon analysis, they discovered that, for every UV increase of 1,000 kilojoules, the risk of onset dropped 30 percent. The researchers concluded that inadequate sun exposure and the subsequent deficiency in D3 are risk factors for multiple sclerosis.
Multiple Sclerosis Relapse
Researchers reporting in the May 2010 issue of the journal "Annals of Neurology" aimed to discover if vitamin D3 levels play a role in the relapse of MS symptoms in adults who developed the disease younger than age 18. The researchers found there is a strong correlation in relapse prevention. The study demonstrated that an increase of 10 nanograms vitamin D3 per milliliter of blood produces a 34 percent decrease in risk of relapse. Theoretically, the authors assert, a 2,000 IU daily supplement of vitamin D3 could cut a patient's relapse rate in half.
Vitamin D3 for Treatment
The November 2009 issue of the "Journal of Neurological Sciences" examined the evidences of using vitamin D3 as a treatment for multiple sclerosis and concluded the prospects are promising in terms of preventing both the disease and its relapse. However, studies to determine safe dosages are needed. The June 2010 issue of "Neurology" tackled the dosage problem by reviewing studies of the therapeutic potential for high dose vitamin D. They made no specific recommendation, but concluded that up to 10,000 IU per day is safe for multiple sclerosis patients.
References
- "Journal of the Neurological Sciences"; Multiple Sclerosis: Progress in Epidemiologic and Experimental Research; Uri Leibowitz; March 1971
- "Minerva Medica"; The Immunology of Multiple Sclerosis; Trygve Holmoy; April 2008
- "Neurology"; Sun Exposure and Vitamin D Are Risk Factors for CNS Demyelination; Robyn. Lucas, et al.; February 2011
- "Annals of Neurology"; Vitamin D Status is Associated with Relapse Rate in Pediatric-onset Multiple Sclerosis; Ellen Mowry, et al.; May 2010
- "Journal of Neurological Sciences"; Vitamin D Treatment in Multiple Sclerosis; Kjell-Morten Myhr; November, 2009
- "Neurology"; A Phase I/II Dose-escalation Trial of Vitamin D3 and Calcium in Multiple Sclerosis; Jodie Burton, et al.; June 2010
