Vitamin D may slow multiple sclerosis progression
Australian scientists have found that vitamin D may slow the progression of multiple sclerosis (MS). The World Today ABC radio program has reported that people living in Tasmania are seven times more likely to develop MS than Queenslanders, suggesting a link between sunlight exposure and the disease.
Now researchers at the Menzies Institute in Hobart have found that taking more vitamin D may reduce the symptoms of the disease.
Professor Bruce Taylor, a principal research fellow at the Menzies Institute in Hobart, said that MS attacks are more common in spring than they are in autumn and spring is when you have your lowest vitamin D levels.
He found that t the higher the vitamin D, the lower the chance of relapse. For each 10 nanomole increase in vitamin D, which is a standard measure of concentration of vitamin D in the blood, you can reduce your risk of having an attack of MS by about 10%.
Therefore doubling your vitamin D will reduce your risk by up to 50% which is really a major result.
Professor Taylor is already advising people with MS to take safe levels of vitamin D supplements.
