Appointments at Mayo Clinic Mayo Clinic offers appointments in Arizona, Florida and Minnesota and at Mayo Clinic Health System locations. Is there any proof that vitamin D supplements can prevent MS or keep symptoms of MS from worsening? Answers from Jerry W. Swanson, M.D. A study conducted by researchers at the University of Oxford and another conducted at the New Jersey Medical School have suggested that maintaining adequate levels of vitamin D may have a protective effect and lower the risk of developing multiple sclerosis (MS). Another study conducted at Maastricht University in the Netherlands and others suggest that for people who already have MS, vitamin D may lessen the frequency and severity of their symptoms. More research is needed to assess these findings. When a person has MS, his or her immune system attacks the coating that protects the nerve cells. Research suggests that a connection between vitamin D and MS could be tied to the positive effects vitamin D has on the immune system.
The link between vitamin D and MS is strengthened by the association between sunlight and the risk of MS. The farther away from the equator a person lives, the higher the risk of MS. Sunlight is the body's most efficient source for vitamin D — suggesting that exposure to sunlight may offer protection from MS. In addition, in studies of a group of nurses, the risk of developing MS was substantially less for women taking 400 international units (IUs) or more of vitamin D a day. Screening for vitamin D deficiency is important for African-Americans and other ethnic groups with dark skin, due to decreased natural production of vitamin D from sun exposure. The Institute of Medicine recommends 600 IUs of vitamin D a day for adults ages 19 to 70. The recommendation increases to 800 IUs a day for adults age 71 and older. Some doctors question whether these levels are adequate and think that getting more vitamin D would benefit many people. However, the Institute of Medicine recommends that adults avoid taking more than 4,000 IUs a day.
If you are diagnosed with vitamin D deficiency, it may be appropriate to use up to 50,000 IUs weekly for up to three months until your vitamin D levels become normal, and then switch to a maintenance dose Very large doses of vitamin D over an extended period can result in toxicity. Signs and symptoms include nausea, vomiting, constipation, poor appetite, weakness and weight loss. In addition, vitamin D toxicity can lead to elevated levels of calcium in your blood, which can result in kidney stones. If you're concerned that you're getting too little — or too much — vitamin D, talk with your doctor about what's right for you. Jerry W. Swanson, M.D. Raghuwanshi A, et al. Vitamin D and multiple sclerosis. Journal of Cell Biochemistry. Ramagopalan SV, et al. Expression of the multiple sclerosis-associated MHC class II allele HLA-DRB1*1501 is regulated by vitamin D. PLOS Genetics. Pierrot-Deseilligny C. Clinical implications of a possible role of vitamin D in multiple sclerosis.
Munger KL, et al. Molecular mechanism underlying the impact of vitamin D on disease activity of MS. Annals of Clinical and Translational Neurology. Accessed Jan. 11, 2016. Vitamin D: Fact sheet for health professionals. National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements. Dietary Reference Intakes for calcium and vitamin D. Institute of Medicine. Accessed Jan. 13, 2016. Vitamin D. Merck Manual Professional Version. Dawson-Hughes B. Vitamin D deficiency in adults: Definition, clinical manifestations, and treatment. Munger KL, et al. Vitamin D intake and the risk of multiple sclerosis. Acta Neurol Scand Suppl. 2012;(195):63-9. doi: 10.1111/ane.12028.Holmøy T1, Torkildsen Ø, Myhr KM, Løken-Amsrud KI.Author information1Department of Neurology, Akershus University Hospital, Lørenskog, Norway. trygve.holmoy@medisin.uio.noAbstractOBJECTIVES: Observational studies suggest that increasing the serum concentration of 25-hydroxyvitamin D with 50 nm could halve the relapse risk in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (MS).
Assuming that the association between disease activity and vitamin D status is entirely causal may however exaggerate the potential benefit. The aim of this paper is to address whether and how vitamin D should be monitored in patients with MS.METHODS: Possible benefits of vitamin D supplementation were assessed from observational, experimental and clinical studies. Based on repeated measurements of 25-hydroxyvitamin D in Norwegian patients with MS , we estimate the effect of different supplementation regimes.RESULTS: Serum levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin in the upper physiological range are associated with lower risk of relapses and magnetic resonance imaging disease activity, but the causality is uncertain. Osteoporosis develops early in patients with MS , and 25-hydroxyvitamin vitamin should therefore at least be 50 nm throughout the year. Levels between 75 and 125 nmol may offer some additional benefit for bone health, are not toxic and are associated with low disease activity. Adding 400 IU (10 μg) vitamin D daily would only bring 56% of the patients >50 nm and 11% >75 nm throughout the year, whereas 800 IU (20 μg) would maintain 97% >50 nm and 67% >75 nm.