Why does Switzerland have high MS rates at low altitudes and low MS rates at high altitudes?
Why does Norway have high MS rates inland and lower MS rates along the coast?
Do you have any idea of the common link between the two questions above?
The answer lies in the importance of Vitamin D.
A number of studies have shown that one crucial environmental factor is the degree of sunlight exposure one gets and the risk of MS.
Thus, under low-sunlight conditions, insufficient vitamin D is produced, providing a risk for MS.
Although the evidence that vitamin D is a protective environmental factor against MS is circumstantial, it is compelling.
This theory can explain the striking geographic distribution of MS, which is nearly zero in countries close to the equator and increases dramatically the further one moves from the equator in either direction.
This brings us back to my two original questions:
Why does Switzerland have high MS rates at low altitudes and low MS rates at high altitudes and why does Norway have high MS rates inland and lower MS rates along the coast?
Well the answer appears to lie in the fact that ultraviolet (UV) light intensity is greater at high altitudes, resulting in a greater synthesis of vitamin D, which explains the lower MS rates at higher altitudes.
In addition, research has shown that MS is lower among coastal Norwegians due to the greater consumption of a diet high in fish, and remember, fish oils are rich in vitamin D.
According to a large study consisting of 187,563 women, it was discovered that women who took vitamin D supplements were 40 percent less likely to develop multiple sclerosis (MS) than women who did not take supplements.
The study found that the risk of developing MS was lower both for those with high intakes of vitamin D supplements (400 IU or more per day) and for those with high intakes from the supplements and food.
Dr. Grisanti's Comments:
I am always amazed to discover information like this. It is most gratifying to be able to review the medical literature and uncover studies that support natural alternatives.
However, at the same time I am disturbed that this same information is totally ignored by some of the traditional medical websites.
I believe the consumer of health information should be totally informed on ALL traditional and alternative options.
If you are suffering with MS or know someone who has MS, I would strongly suggest that a 25-OH vitamin D test be ordered.
References:
Hayes CE.Vitamin D: a natural inhibitor of multiple sclerosis.
Proc Nutr Soc. 2000 Nov;59(4):531-5
VanAmerongen BM, Dijkstra CD, Lips P, Polman CH. Multiple sclerosis and vitamin D: an update. Eur J Clin Nutr. 2004 Aug;58(8):1095-109.
Hayes CE, Cantorna MT, DeLuca HF. Vitamin D and multiple sclerosis.
Proc Soc Exp Biol Med. 1997 Oct;216(1):21-7.
Chaudhuri A. Why we should offer routine vitamin D supplementation in pregnancy and childhood to prevent multiple sclerosis.
Med Hypotheses. 2005;64(3):608-18.
Zittermann A. Vitamin D in preventive medicine: are we ignoring the evidence?
Br J Nutr. 2003 May;89(5):552-72.
Cantorna MT, Hayes CE, DeLuca HF. 1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D3 reversibly blocks the progression of relapsing encephalomyelitis, a model of multiple sclerosis.
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1996 Jul 23;93(15):7861-4.
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