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

How Much Sunshine Is Healthy For You?

We’ve all heard sunshine is good for your health.

How Much Sunshine Is Healthy?

Turns out, it’s 15 minutes of sun exposure without sunscreen 3 times a week.

How Much Sunshine Is Not Healthy?

More than 15 minutes of sun without sunscreen and you’ll end up with premature aging.

Dr. Melissa Piliang (pronounced Pill-ee-ang) of Cleveland Clinic says areas that should be covered at ALL times include:

FACE

CHEST

 

BACK

 

HANDS

 

SHE REMINDS US YOU CAN STILL DEVELOP SKIN CANCER ON TINY EXPOSED AREAS.

 

CG: Dr. Melissa Piliang /Cleveland Clinic

“Face, chest, back of hands are places too – that you can get a lot of sun just running and out of stores, to and from your car, to your mailbox; those kinds of situations.” [:10] 

What Does 15 Minutes of Healthy Sunlight Do?

It activates Vitamin D in your body. After activation, it functions as a hormone. The active form of Vitamin D is called D3 or cholecalciferol.

Vitamin D is vital for mental health, age-related cognitive decline, mood, cardiovascular health and strong bones.  D3 supports calcium absorption and your immune system.

You get vitamin D3 from foods such as mushrooms, orange juice fortified with calcium/D,  milk, fortified soy products, fish or supplements.

What If You Can’t Avoid Sun More Than 15 Min.?

If you need to be exposed to the sun more than 15 minutes Dr. Piliang says to use sunscreen liberally.  Everyone should make sun protection a part of their everyday routine, even while running errands –not just when you go to the beach or pool.

 

SHE SAYS THE BEST PROTECTION ARE SPRAY-ON SUNSCREENS OR A VARIETY OF LOTIONS AND MAKEUPS THAT CONTAIN S-P-F TO PROTECT SKIN.

DR. PILIANG SAYS KEEP LOTION HANDY SO YOU DON’T FORGET.

CG:  Dr. Melissa Piliang /Cleveland Clinic

“For people who are worried about sun exposure on their head, a hat is helpful. And actually a hat is very helpful for everyone because it protects the face, the head, and the top of the ears.” [:15]

ACCORDING TO THE U-S CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION,

SKIN CANCER IS THE MOST COMMON FORM OF CANCER IN THE UNITED STATES AND MEN, ESPECIALLY THOSE WITH LIGHTER SKIN. [:11]

If you see new moles or ones that change shape make sure to get them checked.

Again, people with exposed scalps should always use sunscreen there or wear a hat.

See a dermatologist if you have any concerns.

You can now safely say, “Good Morning, Sunshine!” 15 min. 3x’s a week.

THEN, IT’S “HELLO SUNSCREEN!”   😀

YOU CAN PREVENT SKIN CANCER BY TAKING THESE PRECAUTIONS.

 

MORE INFORMATION:  

https://my.clevelandclinic.org

MEDIA:  See Cleveland Clinic News Service (CCNS), July 26, 2017 Pathfire #10839 for Sound Bites/VO/B-Roll

Don’t forget to protect your EYES too!

Most of us think to pack the sunscreen when heading outdoors into the sun, but we might not always remember to grab a pair of shades.

According to Reecha Kampani, M.D., an ophthalmologist at Cleveland Clinic, putting on sunglasses is more than a fashion statement.

She says protecting eyes from ultraviolet rays is just as important as using sunscreen to protect the skin.

“”UV protection is good for all kinds of structures of the eye, like the eyelids, the cornea, conjunctiva, the lenses and retina tissue itself,”” says Dr. Kampani. “”You can get damage and changes of the eye with exposure to UV light, so protection is very important.””

Dr. Kampani says it is actually possible to get a sunburn on the eyelids and while rare, if exposed to too much UV light, the cornea, which is the clear tissue over the eye, can get a thermal burn, which can be very painful.

“Long-term exposure to UV light can lead to the formation of cataracts or macular degeneration.”

Dr. Kampani recommends wearing sunglasses and a wide-brimmed hat even on moderately sunny or overcast days, to make sure eyes are protected.

 

Wrap-around sunglasses are best if heading out in the sun all day, as they can keep light from coming in through the top and the sides of the glasses.

The good news is that people don’t have to spend a fortune to keep their eyes protected.

Dr. Kampani says buying discounted sunglasses is fine, but it’s a good idea to replace inexpensive glasses yearly.

“”If you’’re buying lenses that are at more discounted places, that’s fine,” said Dr. Kampani. “A lot of times they still do have full protection, but you have to keep in mind that it could be something that’s more temporary, like a spray-on coating, that won’t last as long.””

Dr. Kampani says it’’s also a good idea to keep in mind that artificial UV light, like the kind that is found in tanning beds, is just as bad for the eyes as it is for the skin.

Remember, when you’re outdoors or out in the field as we say in TV wear sunglasses OR a hat to protect your peeps!

Stay healthy!

 

 maria.dorfner@yahoo.com

 

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