Vitamin D reduces risk of multiple sclerosis

December 21, 2006 in Nutrition Topics in the News, Vitamins, Minerals, Supplements

Vitamin D reduces risk of multiple sclerosis
According to Harvard researchers, a high level of vitamin D in the body may lower the risk of developing multiple sclerosis by as much as 62 percent.

The study involved more than 250 people with the disease and 51 healthy controls.  After measuring vitamin D levels in the blood, researchers found that for every 50 nmol/L increase in vitamin D, the risk of developing multiple sclerosis dropped by 41 percent.

Researchers report in the Journal of the American Medical Association that the benefit of vitamin D was most notable in young adults. 

Vitamin D is known as the sunshine vitamin since it is produced in the skin on exposure to sunlight.  Very few foods are naturally high in vitamin D, some foods, such as milk and cereal are fortified with this vitamin.

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