VITAMIN D AND MS

In the first study, researchers from the Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, Mass., assessed the relationship between vitamin D intake in women and the risk of developing multiple sclerosis (MS). Researchers found that women with the highest intake of vitamin D through supplement use had a 40-percent lower risk of developing MS as compared to women who did not use supplements.

According to Harvard Medical School’s Consumer Health Information web site, while vitamin D deficiency in children has become rare, it is becoming common in adults - especially older Caucasian women. Although vitamin D can be derived from food sources it can also come from the sun. In fact, according to the Harvard researchers, just spending 15 minutes daily in the sun can convert enough vitamin D in your skin to the active form to help keep bones strong. However, women living in northern climates often become vitamin D deficient in the winter (and those who avoid the sun for fear of skin cancer might run low all year long). Without adequate vitamin D, calcium absorption suffers, leading to thinner bones.

This study found that vitamin D taken as a supplement was more important than sun exposure and dietary sources. Other researchers, however, have indicated that getting vitamin D in food as well is also important. Good dietary sources of vitamin D include cod liver oil, which has 1360 IU of vitamin D per tablespoon; salmon, which has 425 IU per 3-ounce serving; herring and sardines. It has been suggested that we heed the advice of both findings. By using food products that have vitamin D added as well as supplements, one can be sure not to be deficient. A typical multivitamin has 400 IU, while an 8-ounce glass of milk or fortified orange juice has about 100 international units (IU) of vitamin D. For those not overly fond of milk, spice it up by adding chai, better yet try chai latte.

The recommended intake of adequate amounts of vitamin D depends on a person’s age. Those between 19 to 50 should have at least 200 IU, those 51-69 should consume 400 IU, while those over 70 should consume 600 IU a day.

CONCLUSION

The link between higher intake of vitamin D and lower incidences of multiple sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis raises the possibility that vitamin D may have some anti-inflammatory qualities. While this remains speculative, it has been predicted that new studies will result from the association.

In the meantime, other recent studies have linked deficiencies of vitamin D to disorders such as certain cancers, like colon cancer, heart disease, diabetes and even unexplained pain. While the studies are far from conclusive, researcher Michael Holick, MD, Boston (Mass.) University, has been reported to say there is every reason to believe that the vitamin D supplement plays a much bigger role in disease prevention than has been recognized.

From:  Herbal Remedies Natural Health Newsletter, Editor - Patti Kantor, http://www.HerbalRemedies.com