Health
Vitamin D could decrease risk of multiple sclerosis
NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted Jan. 26, 2004
Women who take a multivitamin containing vitamin D were less likely to develop multiple sclerosis than women who did not take the supplements, according to a study published in the Jan. 13 Neurology, the scientific journal of the American Academy of Neurology.
"Because the number of cases of MS increases the farther you get from the equator, one hypothesis has been that sunlight exposure and high levels of vitamin D may reduce the risk of MS," said Harvard School of Public Health researcher Kassandra Munger. "This is the first prospective study to look at this question."
Although the findings await confirmation through additional research, "It's exciting to think that something as simple as taking a multivitamin could reduce your risk of developing MS," she said.
The researchers examined data from the 20-year Nurses' Health Study and the 10-year Nurses' Health Study II. Women's diets and use of multivitamin supplements were assessed as the studies began and then again every four years. There were 187,563 women in the study. Of those, 173 developed MS during the course of the study.
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2004/01/26/hlbf0126.htm.
