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Vitamin D and MS: Home
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April 19, 2012
MS Trial Alert: Trial of Vitamin D Supplementation Recruiting People with Relapsing-Remitting MS
Investigators at several centers in the USA are recruiting 172 people with relapsing-remitting MS to compare the effectiveness of the current recommended amount of vitamin D supplementation versus high dose vitamin D supplementation at reducing MS disease activity, when added to standard therapy with glatiramer acetate (Copaxone®, Teva Pharmaceutical Industries).
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March 20, 2012
Vitamin D status predicts new brain MRI activity in multiple sclerosis
Mowry EM et al. – Vitamin D levels are inversely associated with multiple sclerosis (MS) activity on brain MRI. These results provide further support for a randomized trial of vitamin D supplementation.
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March 19, 2012
Human skin pigmentation, migration, and disease susceptibility
Human skin pigmentation evolved as a compromise between the conflicting physiological demands of protection against the deleterious effects of ultraviolet radiation (UVR) and photosynthesis of UVB-dependent vitamin D3.
>> more >> audio supplement >> TED TALKS: Nina Jablonski breaks the illusion of skin color

February 26, 2012
Vitamin D prevention trial for MS will commence in 2012
The PrevANZ vitamin D clinical trial for prevention of MS is the world first prevention trial for MS. It is set to begin in Australia, using Vitamin D to prevent repeat attacks of Multiple Sclerosis. The PrevANZ trial will test 3 dosage levels of daily vitamin D supplements (1000, 5000 & 10,000 International Units) against placebo (dummy tablets).
>> more >> YouTube

February 22, 2012
Vitamin D Could Be Weapon Against MS
A clinical trial will test whether Vitamin D can help fight multiple sclerosis (MS). If successful, researchers say the trial could open the door to a treatment which is 100 times cheaper than other drugs available.
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February 22, 2012
A randomised, double blind, placebo controlled trial with vitamin D3 as an add on treatment to interferon β-1b in patients with multiple sclerosis.
One year supplementation with 20,000 IU vitamin D(3) weekly and no calcium daily raised the mean serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D (25[OH]D) from 54 to 110 nmol/L. 84% of patients reached a serum 25(OH)D level > 85 nmol/L in the vitamin D group and 3% in the placebo group. Patients in the vitamin D group showed fewer new brain lesions. Vitamin D3 add on treatment to IFNB reduces MRI disease activity in MS.
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February 21, 2012
Effect of vitamin D3 supplementation on relapses, disease progression and measures of function in persons with multiple sclerosis: exploratory outcomes from a double-blind randomised controlled trial.
Two year supplementation with 20,000 IU vitamin D(3) weekly and 500 mg calcium daily raised median serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D (25[OH]D) to 121 nmol/L. Unfortunately, the sample size was too small to result in beneficial effects on the measured multiple sclerosis-related outcomes.
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February 2, 2012
Dangers of vitamin D deficiency highlighted
Following fresh concerns about vitamin D deficiency, the UK’s 4 Chief Medical Officers have written to health professionals reminding them about this issue.
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January 27, 2012
England's chief medical officer Dame Sally Davies backs (free) vitamin D supplements
England's chief medical officer Dame Sally Davies has begun campaigning to the English medical fraternity that certain population groups like under-5s should take vitamin D supplements.
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January 17, 2012
National MS Society Convenes Summit to Explore Vitamin D Trials to Prevent MS
An International Workshop “Vitamin D and MS Prevention" discussed the latest findings relevant to vitamin D and MS and potential clinical trial designs, taking the first steps to making these exciting studies a reality.
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December 20, 2011
Vitamin D in food call to combat Scots MS
Prof George Ebers, a University of Oxford professor, has said rates of multiple sclerosis are so dire in Scotland essential foodstuffs should be fortified with vitamin D.
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December 13, 2011
From the Frontlines: What’s New in MS Research for 2012
Researchers have just finished an exciting summit asking the question, can we prevent MS with Vitamin D?
>> watch the recording or >> read the transcript

December 8, 2011
Rare Gene Links Vitamin D and Multiple Sclerosis
Prof George Ebers, lead study author at Oxford University, says "This type of finding has not been seen in any complex disease. The uniform transmission of a variant to offspring with MS is without precedent but there will have been interaction with other factors."
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October 19 - 22, 2011
Breaking News from ECTRIMS/actrims: Zeroing in on risk factors for MS
Research has now shown that Vitamin D3 (Cholecalciferol) can, not only prevent MS, but also can reduce MS-attacks, MS-lesions in the Brain as seen on the MRI and also reduce the progression of MS. Thus Vitamin D3 may even prevent the wheel chair. These findings have to be re-established in larger clinical trials.
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Augustus 23 , 2011
Vitamin D Found to Influence Over 200 Genes, Highlighting Links to Disease
The extent to which vitamin D deficiency may increase susceptibility to a wide range of diseases is dramatically highlighted in newly published research. Scientists have mapped the points at which
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Augustus 10 , 2011
Global Consortium Doubles the Number of MS Risk Genes Identified
Two genes linked to vitamin D were also implicated; research is increasingly pointing to low vitamin D levels in patients as a risk factor for developing MS.
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July 11 , 2011
Poor Bone Health May Start Early in People With Multiple Sclerosis
Osteoporosis and low bone density are common in people in the early stages of multiple sclerosis (MS), according to a new
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May 22 , 2011
Epstein-Barr Virus Could Be Risk Factor for Multiple Sclerosis
While there is no cause known for multiple sclerosis, patients with MS seem to have genetic vulnerability to certain environmental factors that could trigger this condition, such as the Epstein-Barr
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April 19 , 2011
Common Virus Plus Low Sunlight Exposure May Increase Risk of Multiple Sclerosis
New research suggests that people who are exposed to low levels of sunlight coupled with a history of having a common virus known as mononucleosis may be at greater odds of developing multiple sclerosis.
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April 12 , 2011
Gestational ultraviolet and vitamin D exposure and the risk of multiple sclerosis in the United Kingdom
One of the most enigmatic features of the complex disease multiple sclerosis (MS) is the observation that season of birth influences the risk of developing the disease later in life being higher in spring born and lower in fall born individuals.
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March 3 , 2011
How Sunlight May Reduce the Severity of Multiple Sclerosis
New research into the neurodegenerative disease, multiple sclerosis (MS) offers new insight into the link between sunlight, vitamin D3, and MS risk and severity. The research studies the relationship
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February 7, 2011
Sun Exposure, Vitamin D May Lower Risk of Multiple Sclerosis
People who spend more time in the sun and those with higher vitamin D levels may be less likely to develop multiple sclerosis, according to a new study. MS is a chronic disease of the brain and
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December 2 - 4, 2010
Vitamin D: A Health/Disease Switch in MS
There is mounting evidence that alterations in the gastro-intestinal microbiota (due to lifestyle changes) have disrupted microbial-mediated mechanisms of immunological tolerance within and outside the gut and can affect various immunologic diseases in humans.
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October 15, 2010
Vitamin D News for Multiple Sclerosis Patients, October 2010
Dr. C.E. Hayes, Professor of Biochemistry, U. Wisconsin, Editor
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May 22, 2010
Vitamin D News for Multiple Sclerosis Patients, May 2010
Dr. C.E. Hayes, Professor of Biochemistry, U. Wisconsin, Editor
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April 10 - 17, 2010
Abstracts/talks on vitamin D and MS at the 62nd Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Neurology (AAN)
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March 8, 2010
Vitamin D Crucial to Activating Immune Defenses
Scientists have found that vitamin D is crucial to activating our immune defenses and that without sufficient intake of the vitamin - the killer cells of the immune system -- T cells -- will not be
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October 23, 2009
Why governments are selling Vitamin D short
Dr. Vieth and other vitamin D researchers around the world believe they can prove vitamin D could help millions live longer and be healthier and yet they have not been able to convince their own governments.
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February 06, 2009
Study Shows Link Between Vitamin D and an MS Susceptibility Gene
For the first time, researchers have found evidence of a direct interaction between vitamin D and a common genetic variant, the presence of which increases the risk of developing multiple sclerosis. The research highlights the importance of studying the interaction of genes and the environment to search for the underlying triggers of this complex disease.
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January 27, 2009
Study Linking Vitamin D to a Reduction in Cancer Risk
A total of 2,300 women will be recruited and followed for four years with half of the participants randomly assigned to take daily supplements containing 2,000 IU of vitamin D3 and 1,200 mg of calcium; the second group will receive placebos.
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January 7, 2009
25-hydroxyvitamin D levels and the risk of mortality in the general population.
In the study, people who had low vitamin D levels, 17.8 ng/mL (44.5 nmol/L) or lower, were 26 percent more likely to be dead at the end of the study than those with higher vitamin D levels.
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January 1, 2009
An International Effort to Solve the Vitamin D Deficiency Epidemic
Sign up to participate in this study and get your vitamin D tested with a blood spot test from ZRT.
>> more

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The aim of the Vitamin D and MS is to provide timely information on Vitamin D and Multiple Sclerosis for patients with MS, their families, their friends, their care givers, clinicians, allied health professionals, and the public. The contents of this Web site are not intended to offer personal medical advice. You should seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this Web site.