Vitamin D is not only the sunshine of our lives, it also casts rays of hope in the prevention of several serious and debilitating diseases. Previous research has suggested that vitamin D may provide protection from osteoporosis, hypertension, cancer, and osteoarthritis, as well as promote a healthy immune system and more. In addition, a deficiency of vitamin D can cause rickets in children, resulting in skeletal deformities, and may lead to osteomalacia in adults, which results in muscular weakness as well as weak bones.
Recently, a group of researchers from Oxford University and the University of British Columbia in Canada discovered a direct interaction existing between vitamin D and a common genetic variant might have an impact on an individual’s risk of multiple sclerosis (MS). Findings show that having a vitamin D deficiency while in the womb and early in life may increase the risk of MS later in life.
MS is a neurological condition affecting 2.5 million people around the globe and causes symptoms ranging from mild tingling to blindness and paralysis. Environmental and genetic factors play a part in the development of MS including vitamin D along with genetic effects from a gene variant located on chromosome six known as DRB1*1501 and adjacent DNA sequences.
Generally, only 1 in 1,000 people will develop MS. However, among people who have one copy of the DRB1*1501, this number jumps to about one in 300 and increases to one in 100 among those having two copies of the variant. The researchers found that vitamin D activated proteins in the body attach to a particular DNA sequence located next to the DRB1*1501 variant causing the gene to switch on. In a news release, study co-author Julian Knight said, “In people with the DRB1 variant associated with MS, it seems that vitamin D may play a critical role. If too little of the vitamin is available, the gene may not function properly.”
Lead author Dr. Sreeram Ramagopalan noted, “Our study implies that taking vitamin D supplements during pregnancy and the early years may reduce the risk of child developing MS in later life.... Vitamin D is a safe and relatively cheap supplement with substantial potential health benefits. There is accumulating evidence that it can reduce the risk of developing cancer and offer protection from other autoimmune diseases.”
The results of the study support a prior analysis of over 7 million people that found people with the highest blood levels of vitamin D to be 62 percent less likely to develop MS than people with low levels. Information on this study can be found here.
Exposure to the sun for as little as 10 minutes daily is believed to be a sufficient amount to prevent deficiencies since the sun contributes significantly to the daily production of vitamin D. Vitamin D is also found in many dietary sources including fish, eggs, fortified milk, and cod liver oil.
People having a high risk for vitamin D deficiencies include the elderly, obese individuals, breastfed infants, and people having limited exposure to the sun. In addition, those who suffer from fat malabsorption syndromes like cystic fibrosis or inflammatory bowel diseases such as Crohn's disease are at risk. In addition, the research team suggests that expectant mothers take vitamin D supplements or give them to their infants as a preventative measure based on the findings of the newly released study.
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