High vitamin D levels cut MS risk

[DoYouEverWonder]

20 December 2006

Higher levels of vitamin D in the blood may lower the risk of multiple sclerosis (MS), research suggests.

Previous studies have suggested vitamin D may have a protective effect - but the evidence has been inconclusive.

A Harvard School of Public Health team measured levels of the vitamin in large numbers of US military personnel.

The study, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, found the risk of MS fell as blood levels of the vitamin rose.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/6191131.stm


Hopefully this will help people who already have MS too.

[happyslug]

1. And how do you increase Vitamin D?

By getting out in the sun. YOur Body will produce Vitamin D naturally if your skin in exposed to the sun. People are built to interact with nature NOT be shut up inside buildings.

Some Web Sites:
http://www.healingtherapies.info/Sunlight&VitaminD.htm
Plays down the harmful affect of sunlight for your body can get the sunlight it needs WITHOUT sun bathing just by being outside.

http://www.westonaprice.org/basicnutrition/vitamindmiracle.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vitamin_D
http://www.vitamindepotonline.com/index.asp?PageAction=Custom&ID=95
Site that prefers your to take Vitamin D pills instead of being in the sun.

http://www.atkinsalltheway.com/wiki/index.php/Vitamin_D

[NotGivingUp]

2. Exactly. It's disgusting how people are basically 'locked up'

inside of buildings most of their lives.

[snogirl]

19. take a walk every day...

yeah, if people are not in buildings (in front of computers), they are in their cars going to and from them...

i live in europe, am american, but i actually walk every day and do not use a car unless necessary...

try it, u might like it....

[murray hill farm]

3. MS has always been more prevelant in the northern geographical

regions where there is less sun from dailight hours....so, this vitamin D "discovery" should not be a huge suprise to anyone.

[Lurking Dem]

4. I get my vitamin D in a pill now.

I can't go in the sun at all (or fluorescent lighting or....ad infinitum) and am allergic to dairy so worried about D.

If I wear factor 60 I can do maybe 10 or 15 minutes outside without ending up in bed or the hospital with a major lupus flare. How much exposure does one actually need to get enough D?

[noonwitch]

5. It's got to be something more than just that alone that causes it

God, I hope so. I'm one of those people who never gets much sun, and if I am out in the sun, I wear spf 35 sunblock lotion. I am about as white as you can get without being an albino.

I heard somewhere once that the area of New York south of Buffalo and along Lake Erie has the highest national incidence of MS. I don't know if that is true or not, but it is an area that gets some of the worst winter weather anyone can get.

[Malikshah]

6. Strange-- as I'm on Avonex for my MS and the instructions say

to remain out of direct sunlight for extended periods while on it.

Furthermore-- being in the sun-- getting hot-- tends to wipe you out even harder if you have MS

[RedEarth]

7. High Levels of Vitamin D Appear To Lower Chance of Developing MS

Wednesday, December 20, 2006; A11


High Levels of Vitamin D Appear To Lower Chance of Developing MS


An abundance of vitamin D seems to help cut the odds of developing multiple sclerosis, according to a study of stored blood samples from more than 7 million members of the U.S. military.

The research found that white people with the highest blood levels of vitamin D were 62 percent less likely to develop multiple sclerosis than people with low levels.

There was no such connection in blacks or Hispanics, possibly because there were so few in the group studied. Also, the body makes vitamin D from sunlight, and the pigmented skin of blacks and other dark-skinned ethnic groups doesn't absorb sunlight as easily as pale skin.

"This is the first large prospective study where blood levels are measured in young adults and compared to their future risk. It's definitely different and much stronger evidence," said Alberto Ascherio of Harvard's School of Public Health, the senior author.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/12/19/AR2006121901571_pf.html

[derby378]

8. Organic Valley milk, here I come...

:toast:

[sweetheart]

9. by that it should follow MS is a nordic affliction

Then a map of MS incidence should be demographically higher further
away from the equator as temperate climates cut the seasonal light,
and skin-exposed.

[Richard D]

10. It does just that.

[sweetheart]

11. wow! thanks, i didn't know that about ms.

I can't believe they just figured out the vitamin D link, given those maps.

Ironic that treatments work with cannabis, that is a very light-demanding plant,
like the treatment involves sunlight, even if it is second hand.

[Richard D]

12. yeah, no shit . . .

It's really a "well duhh" conclusion. Should have been obvious for a long long time (it was to me). Vitamin D deficiency is a huge problem, easily and cheaply corrected. Add in osteoporosis, possibly cancer, and likely a few more illnesses as well. The amount of Vitamin D we get from sunlight is highly minimized, especially in these sun-phobic slather on the UV 40 every day culture we living. I saw a study a few years ago that analyzed the amount of Vitamin D that would be made in the body in people living in Africa, living in the sun most of the day (our genetic ancestors, ya know), vs. the amount of vitamin D made in those living in more temperate climates, and it was a huge difference.

I also saw a study that had older people who were given a massive dose of Vitamin D I think 4 times a year who lived significantly longer than those who didn't get it. I think I remember the reason was that they fell far less, so less broken hips.

Helps prevent gum disease too.

The good thing about Vitamin D is that you can take a large dose on a monthly basis or even every other month and the body will store it up. So no need to take a little bit every day. Toxicity is not as much of an issue as had been believed in the past.

[Richard D]

13. Vitamin D lecture

This is a really interesting lecture about Vitamin D. Worth the time to listen: http://www.insinc.com/onlinetv/directms13oct2005/softvnetplayer.htm

[sweetheart]

14. Holy shit! I had no idea vitamin D was that crucial

I'm looking out to see if i can find a high dosage supplier of vitamin D,
after seeing that, really thank you for posting that... wow! I'm only half
way through the lecture, but its really impressive....

I have to check the health forum to see if vitamin D has been discussed there,
Persons here should be aware of how that vitamin affects their old-age.

[Richard D]

15. You might check the archive

I think that I first found that lecture on DU. There is, of course, some controversy about doses that large.

[Bridget Burke]

16. Vitamin D OD"s can happen....

Do some homework before megadosing.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vitamin_D

Besides fortified milk, oily fish & eggs are good sources of D. (Yeah, I know about mercury in fish; I'll weigh the risks.)

[Barrett808]

17. The Pacific NW has the highest incidence of MS in the world

National Multiple Sclerosis Society
http://whyhere.org

[eppur_se_muova]

18. Despite all those salmon? Curious.

Natural sources of vitamin D include:<1>

* Fish liver oils, such as cod liver oil, 1 Tbs. (15 mL), 1,360 IU
* Fatty fish, such as:
o Salmon, cooked, 3.5 oz, 360 IU
o Mackerel, cooked, 3.5 oz, 345 IU
o Sardines, canned in oil, drained, 1.75 oz, 250 IU
o Tuna, canned in oil, 3 oz, 200 IU
o Eel, cooked, 3.5 oz, 200 IU
* One whole egg, 20 IU
* Shiitake mushrooms, one of a few natural sources of vegan and kosher vitamin D (in the form of ergosterol vitamin D2)

(from Wikipedia)

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

20. Not a lot of sunlight though.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

21. Good link here:

Due to an irresponsible media, new age food people, holistic medicine, etc. there's a lot of misinformation about things in the diet that are good or bad for you. Here's a good link that sums up the scientific evidence for vitamins, minerals, etc.

http://lpi.oregonstate.edu/infocenter/vitamins/vitaminD/