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 | Research: Vitamin D shows Promise in Treating RRMS |
 A lot of attention has been made regarding the implications of Vitamin D (and in particular, its deficiency) and correlation with the development of multiple sclerosis. One large study found that low vitamin D levels were associated with MS, but did not demonstrate if taking Vitamin D AFTER diagnosis would be of any use.
This pilot study from the Mayo clinic explores that very issue. 15 relapsing-remitting MS'ers were given oral (yay!) calcitriol-- a form of Vitamin D prescribed to people who have low levels of calcium in their blood for 48 weeks. The participants were also advised to limit their dietary intake of calcium to prevent skewing the results as well as overdosing on calcium. 13 of the 15 successfully finished the trial, and were examined using expanded disability status scale, MRIs, and clinical examinations.
The results were promising. 4 patients had a total of 5 relapses in the 48 weeks, and 12 of the 13 had their EDSS stay stable within 1 point of starting. MRIs showed enhancing (active) lesions in 5 patients and baseline and 4 at the end of the study.
You know it's coming: This study showed a positive trend on a safe, easily-administered therapy, but because it is so small-- "more studies are warranted."
Click "read more" for the link to the original abstract.
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Re: Vitamin D shows Promise in Treating RRMS (Score: 1)
by Nick on Monday, September 26 @ 13:53:16 EDT
(User Info | Send a Message) | | ThisIsMS is a great source of information for matters related to MS. Your recognition of vitamin D and MS is evident yet I believe you vastly underestimate its role with respect to MS. Rather than periodic snippets of information, a compilation of the dataset at this site would serve the MS community well. The MS community is always looking for the proverbial magic bullet and I feel the data surrounding vitamin D suggest it is as close as it gets to this ideal.
In particular, vitamin D's role as a preventative measure appears unsurpassed. You have provided coverage to the Harvard nurse study which found a risk reduction of 40 % with a supplement of 400 IU/d of vitamin D. This is rather impressive as you have stated. However if you were to consider the wealth of other observational data you would be even more impressed.
• Migrants to Australia from Ireland/Britain unintentionally achieved a startling 75% reduction in MS prevalence by leaving sunlight poor Ireland/Britain for sun drenched Queensland, Australia.( http://www.direct-ms.org/british.html)
• Supplementation with 2,000 IU/d of vitamin D in infants was observed to result in a risk reduction of 80 % in type 1 diabetes (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=11705562&query_hl=4)
• Type 1 diabetes (IDDM, juvenile diabetes) and MS have been shown to have identical disease processes(aside from the final expression) and geographic distribution (Winer et al, 2001 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?
cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=11160351&query_hl=9)
• The province of Alberta, Canada has the dubious distinction of the world's highest prevalence of both MS and type 1 diabetes.
The question of vitamin D's effectiveness as an active therapy remains unaddressed. You have given this mention in posting the research by Wingerchuk at al. Unfortunately the results were quite dismal. This study gave its participants the final vitamin D derivative, 1,25 hydroxyvitamin D. Notably this is not the same as getting vitamin D in its native state and letting the body organs and tissues produce, and use the final hormone (i.e.1,25). Mind you, this study's technique is consistent with a pharmaceutical oriented mindset.
Kudos are in order for providing the Harvard study by Munger et al which showed a 40% risk reduction for those nurses taking a vitamin D supplement. You are probably not aware that these researchers were not even considering including vitamin D in their questionnaire until Direct-MS caught wind of their proposed study and then sent them supporting evidence of the role vitamin D has as an immunoregulator.
It is thus critical to analyze the former recommended daily dose of vitamin D, the new paradigm of how much is required for optimal normal, physiological function, amounts required for immunoregulation and amounts necessary for toxicity. Surely a prevention rate of 75% merits a rational presentation here. Imagine if predisposed people purposely received a therapeutic dose of vitamin D rather than an ambient dose. With purposeful supplementation it is conceivable of a complete elimination of MS incidence (i.e. new cases) within a few years with an extremely safe and cost effective method.
As for active therapy, it would be desirable to see studies conducted by using a rational and not for profit motive.
Cheers
Nick |
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