Increased Vitamin D Intake May Slow Multiple Sclerosis Progression And Reduce Severity

Multiple sclerosis, the neuro-inflammatory disease is the most common disabling disease usually affecting people between 20s and 40s. Nevertheless, it can also affect children and older people. The exact number of people affected by MS is not known, yet it is estimated that between 250,000 to 350,000 are victims of MS in the U.S. alone.  

MS is a central nervous system disease that might impact strength, muscle control, balance, vision, feeling and thinking. According to the WHO estimates, about 2.5 million people in the world suffer from MS. 

A number of studies in the past have found beneficial impacts of Vitamin D on the progression of disease. In a new study led by researchers from Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH) in collaboration with Bayer HealthCare, it was found that low levels of Vitamin D are strongly correlated with disease severity and hasten its progression. A major implication of this study is that patients with MS in its early stage may possibly minimize disease symptoms by increasing their vitamin D intake.  The study is published in the January 20, 2014 online issue of JAMA Neurology.  

"Because low vitamin D levels are common and can be easily and safely increased by oral supplementation, these findings may contribute to better outcomes for many MS patients," said lead author Alberto Ascherio, professor of epidemiology and nutrition at HSPH.

Previous research indicated a connection between low levels of vitamin D and risk of developing MS or having MS symptoms worsen, but those studies included patients with longstanding MS whose vitamin D levels could partly be a consequence, not a predictor, of disease severity. The new study looked at vitamin D levels among patients at the time of their first symptoms of the disease.

The research team analyzed database of patients from 20 nations enrolled in 2002 and 2003 in the BENEFIT (Betaseron in Newly Emerging Multiple Sclerosis for Initial Treatment) program. The patients numbering 465 included 18 European nationalities apart from Canada and Israel. They compared the effectiveness of early versus late interferon beta-1b in treating the disease.The scientists looked at how the patients' vitamin D levels—which were measured at the onset of their symptoms and at regular intervals over a 24-month period—correlated with their disease symptoms and progression over a period of five years. 

According to the findings of the study, early-stage MS patients with adequate levels of vitamin D in comparison to those with lower levels had a 57% lower rate of new brain lesions, a 57% lower relapse rate, and a 25% lower yearly increase in lesion. 

The loss in brain volume is an important predictor of disability. The loss in brain volume was found lower among patients with adequate vitamin D levels. Therefore, the study concludes that vitamin D has a strong protective effect on the disease process underlying MS. It also highlights the critical task of correcting vitamin D deficiency which is widespread in the U.S and Europe, according to researchers.  

"The benefits of vitamin D appeared to be additive to those of interferon beta-1b, a drug that is very effective in reducing MS activity. The findings of our study indicate that identifying and correcting vitamin D insufficiency should become part of the standard of care for newly diagnosed MS patients," said Ascherio.