A new study is believed to be the first to confirm the positive effects of vitamin D on multiple sclerosis, although this area of research is still in its early stages. (Image credit: Kinga Krzeminska via Getty Images)
For the first time, a clinical study has shown that using high doses of vitamin D can slow the progression of multiple sclerosis.
In general, too much vitamin D can be dangerous; however, in the new study, high doses were given in a controlled setting under the supervision of medical personnel and in patients for whom it was considered safe.
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic autoimmune disorder that affects the brain and spinal cord. In patients, immune cells mistakenly attack the protective layer surrounding nerve fibers, causing lesions or scar tissue to form. This causes symptoms such as muscle weakness, vision problems, numbness, and memory difficulties, which may come and go or gradually worsen.
There is currently no cure for multiple sclerosis. Existing medications can help patients manage symptoms, but they often come with unpleasant side effects, such as an increased risk of infections and gastrointestinal problems.
Research suggests that vitamin D deficiency may be a potential risk factor for multiple sclerosis. This is because vitamin D can reduce inflammation in the central nervous system in a number of ways, such as by suppressing the release of chemicals from immune cells that cause inflammatory responses. So, there is a theory that too little vitamin D may lead to uncontrolled inflammation.
The link between vitamin D deficiency and multiple sclerosis was first identified back in the 1960s. However, over the years, various clinical trials have tried and failed to confirm that high doses of vitamin D can help reduce symptoms or slow the progression of the disease in patients.
Previous studies may have failed because of small numbers of participants and short follow-up periods, such as just a year, said Dr. Eric Thouvenot, co-leader of the new trial and a neurologist at the University of Montpellier in France. Previous trials also tested vitamin D supplementation in patients already receiving treatment for multiple sclerosis, making it difficult to determine the effectiveness of vitamin D alone, he told Live Science.
To overcome these obstacles, Thouvenot and his team took a different approach in their research.
They studied the effects of high doses of vitamin D on 303 patients with clinically isolated syndrome (CIS). CIS describes a condition in which patients show early signs of multiple sclerosis, but the disease has not yet fully developed and they do not meet diagnostic criteria. Signs of CIS include inflammation and damage to the protective layer around nerve fibers.
Although there is no guarantee that CIS will progress to multiple sclerosis, it does affect approximately 85% of MS patients.
The study participants had not yet started taking other medications to treat MS, allowing the researchers to directly study the effects of vitamin D supplements on the progression of the disease.
Sourse: www.livescience.com
