Studies Show Sunlight & Vitamin D Help MS

Vitamin D, specifically D2 and D3, along with sunlight exposure have a positive effect on MS.

It elevates mood, fatigue and can help repair the protective layer around nerves, known as myelin, and has an overall positive effect on the immune system.

It is helpful for all autoimmune disorders.

I shared the benefits of it in the past, when people were in lockdown without sunlight, which is detrimental to health and public health experts didn’t mention it.

It’s worth repeating as inflammation and all autoimmune disorders, including MS, are now known side effects of what public health experts did mention you should do repeatedly.

Here are the best sources for Vitamin D2 and D3.

VITAMIN D FROM FOOD SOURCES:

Fortified Cheese
Tuna
Mushrooms
Flounder
Sardines
Vegetables
Fruits
Oily Fish
Salmon
Nuts (handful of almonds, walnuts)
Beans
Lentils
Baked Potatoes
Chickpeas
Legumes
Egg Yolks

Egg yolks Photo by Jane Doan on Pexels.com

VITAMIN D FROM SUNSHINE


When you’re outdoors in sunlight, your skin absorbs the vitamin and helps raise the overall levels of D3 within your blood. This has a positive impact on your immune system, reduces inflammation, depression and even lowers your risk of certain cancers. It’s also good as a preventative measure, even if otherwise healthy.

Health Journalist and TVProducer, Maria Dorfner walking in sunshine

HOW MUCH SUNSHINE IS RECOMMENDED?

15 minutes daily, before 10 a.m. or after 2 p.m.

VITAMIN D FROM SUPPLEMENTS

Normal levels of Vitamin D in your blood should be between 30ng/ml to 100 ng/ml.

If you don’t know if your current level or if you are low, you can ask your doctor for a Vitamin D2 and Vitamin D3 test. It’s a simple blood test.


HOW MUCH VITAMIN D DO YOU NEED?

For most people, 600 to 800 international units (IU), is the recommended daily dose, which you can get through a combination of sunshine, food, and supplements.

For those with MS, a daily intake between 1000 and 2000 IUs each day is needed.

Vitamin Photo by Supplements On Demand on Pexels.com

LINKS TO STUDIES

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34959758/

RELATED STUDIES

2021 Apr 9;13(4):e14383. doi: 10.7759/cureus.14383.
Association Between Serum Vitamin D Levels and Frequency of Relapses in Patients With Multiple Sclerosis

Farah Mansoor 1 , Vikash Kumar 2 , Suneel Kumar 2 , Navneet Kaur 3 , Sidra Naz 4 , Simra Shahid 5 , Faryal Anees 6 1 , Sidra Memon 1 , Amber Rizwan 7
Affiliations expand
PMID: 33987049 PMCID: PMC8110290 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.14383
Free PMC article
Abstract

Introduction

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an immune-mediated inflammatory disease of the central nervous system affecting the myelin sheath of neurons with a wide range of symptoms. Among various risk factors studied that can increase the relapse, vitamin D is also a potential risk factor. In this study, we will determine the association between vitamin D status and frequency of relapses in patients with MS. Material and methods Seventy-four (74) patients with a confirmed diagnosis of MS, with more than one (01) relapse per year, for a minimum of two years, were included in the case group. Seventy-four (74) participants with a confirmed diagnosis of MS with one (01) or no relapse per year, for a minimum of two years, were included in the control group. After informed consent, the patient blood was drawn via phlebotomy and was sent to the lab for vitamin D levels. Results The mean serum vitamin D level was significantly lower in case group compared to control group (18.21 ± 4.21 ng/mL vs. 29.21 ± 5.72 ng/mL; p-value: < 0.0001). The number of participants with vitamin D level less than 30 ng/mL were significantly higher in patients with case group compared to control group (78.37% vs. 50.0%; p-value: 0.0003)

Conclusion In this study, patients with more relapses per year had low level of serum vitamin D. There is emerging strong evidence that vitamin D plays an important role in the pathogenesis, progression, and disease burden of autoimmune disease, including MS.

Copyright © 2021, Mansoor et al.

Conflict of interest statement

Authors declared no competing interests exist.

Similar articles:

Radiological Association Between Multiple Sclerosis Lesions and Serum Vitamin D Levels.
Akhtar A, Neupane R, Singh A, Khan M.
Cureus. 2022 Nov 23;14(11):e31824. doi: 10.7759/cureus.31824. eCollection 2022 Nov.
PMID: 36579263 Free PMC article.

Vitamin D for the management of multiple sclerosis.
Jagannath VA, Filippini G, Di Pietrantonj C, Asokan GV, Robak EW, Whamond L, Robinson SA.
Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2018 Sep 24;9(9):CD008422. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD008422.pub3.
PMID: 30246874 Free PMC article. Review.

Association of seasonal serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels with disability and relapses in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis.
Brola W, Sobolewski P, Szczuchniak W, Góral A, Fudala M, Przybylski W, Opara J.
Eur J Clin Nutr. 2016 Sep;70(9):995-9. doi: 10.1038/ejcn.2016.51. Epub 2016 Mar 30.
PMID: 27026420

Vitamin D as an early predictor of multiple sclerosis activity and progression.
Ascherio A, Munger KL, White R, Köchert K, Simon KC, Polman CH, Freedman MS, Hartung HP, Miller DH, Montalbán X, Edan G, Barkhof F, Pleimes D, Radü EW, Sandbrink R, Kappos L, Pohl C.
JAMA Neurol. 2014 Mar;71(3):306-14. doi: 10.1001/jamaneurol.2013.5993.
PMID: 24445558 Free PMC article.

VITAMINS ON-LINE https://www.cvs.com/search?searchTerm=Vitamin%20D


Health Blog Contact: maria.dorfner@yahoo.com

Maria Dorfner @Maria_Dorfner on Twitter

Vitamin D: Why You Need It

Getting some natural vitamin D on a gorgeous day.  Ten to 15 min. sunlight is safe daily.

Exposure is best after 5 p.m. or before 8 a.m. when it’s less harsh.

Healthy Benefits of Vitamin D:

Sun’s UV rays help your body produce it naturally, which is vital for blood cells, bones and your immune system. It also helps you take in and use certain minerals, like phosphorus and calcium.

At all times, but especially during flu season and Covid19, it’s important to keep your immune system strong. 

Foods high in D are fatty fish, like salmon & tuna, and egg yolks.

People age 1 to 70 need 600 IU daily. People over age 70 need 800 IU daily for optimum health. You can find supplements.

Symptoms you may have a vitamin D deficiency are:

Fatigue
Lethargy
Hair loss
Depression
Slow wound healing
Weight gain
Muscle or bone pain
Decrease in bone density
Increases your risk for colds, flu & other illnesses like Covid19

According to a 2011 study, 41.6% of adults in the US are deficient.
This number goes up to 69.2% in Hispanics and 82.1% in African-Americans.

7 common risk factors for vitamin D deficiency:

🌞 Having dark skin.
🌞 Being elderly.
🌞 Being overweight or obese.
🌞 Not eating much fish or dairy.
🌞 Living far from equator where there is little sun year-round.
🌞 Always using sunscreen when going out.
🌞 Staying indoors.

So, find an outdoor space that’s empty or with only a few people social distancing, so you can get outside and enjoy the sunshine. Preventing illness by maintaining daily healthy habits is one of the best defenses you have against any illness.

It’s worth repeating: Exercise daily, eat nutritious foods, avoid processed foods, sugar and alcohol, stay hydrated with water, get enough sleep, read to keep your mind active and limit your time on social media, so you have time to take care.

Keep your pantry stocked with healthy foods and snacks during this time. The healthier you eat, the less you will crave the bad for you stuff or you will at least limit it one day a week. Your mind and body will thank you later.

Photo by Buenosia Carol on Pexels.com

If you haven’t had healthy habits your whole life, it’s never too late to start. Take it one day at a time. It takes a few weeks (sometimes months) for you to begin feeling your best mentally, physically and spiritually.



Start by removing one unhealthy habit. Then, another. Be patient with yourself.

Stay healthy. Stay safe.

blog contact: maria.dorfner@yahoo.com