Multiple Sclerosis and Multiple Risk Factors

Multiple sclerosis (MS) researchers have often suspected that there are multiple factors that cause MS. New research published in Neurology on April 19, 2011, reports that the combination of two circumstances, little exposure to sunlight and a history of having the Epstein-Barr virus (mononucleosis), increases your risk of developing MS.

There are few diseases as disruptive and debilitating as multiple sclerosis. MS affects your ability to walk, speak, and see. When you have MS, the protective coating around the nerves, called the myelin sheath, is damaged. This causes your nerve impulses to act irregularly and also for the nerves to be inflamed. In addition to being painful, this inflammation triggers an autoimmune dysfunction, resulting in more nerve damage.

Doctors have determined that, like many other medical diseases, if you have a family history of MS, your likelihood of developing the disease is higher than someone who does not have the same medical background.

Scotland has the highest incidence of MS in the world; in Africa there is virtually no one with t he disease. This phenomenon doesn’t have as much to do with one’s DNA, though, as it does to one’s exposure to sunlight.

George C. Ebers, M.D., of the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom and a member of the American Academy of Neurology reported on a prospective study (mentioned above) conducted in hospitals all over the United Kingdom (where the prevalence of MS is high). After fellow researchers identified 56,681 cases of multiple sclerosis and 14,621 cases of infectious mononucleosis, they found that 61 percent of all patients with MS had low vitamin D; 72 percent had both a low vitamin D and a history of Epstein-Barr.

Exposure to the Epstein-Barr virus causes no symptoms in some and infectious mononucleosis (mono) in others. Often called the kissing disease, mono presents with a high fever, swollen glands, and extreme fatigue. Regardless of whether someone’s experience with mono is symptomatic or non-symptomatic, an individual will carry antibodies for the virus.

Dr. Doug Brown, head of biomedical research at the MS Society notes, “Vitamin D has been closely studied in recent years and is thought to be a key factor in the development of MS.” Other well-respected researchers, including J.J. Cannell. M.D., of the Vitamin D Council, concur that low vitamin D levels put one at a higher risk for MS (and many, many other conditions).

Dr. Ebers concluded, “It’s possible that vitamin D deficiency may lead to an abnormal response to the Epstein-Barr virus,” Ebers said. Based on this study, it seems likely that this response could also increase your risk of MS.

Reference: Ramagopalan, S.V., et al. Relationship of UV exposure to prevalence of multiple sclerosis in England, Neurology, April 19, 2011; Pages: 1410-1414
 

Cardiovascular Disease Linked to Vitamin D Deficiency-Again!

As you probably know, I feel strongly about educating others on the important role that vitamin D plays in supporting health. That is why I wrote The Vitamin D Revolution: How the Power of This Amazing Vitamin Can Change Your Life.

A few years ago, the typical person didn’t know much about vitamin D, so, in the book, I explained how the sunshine vitamin worked as both a vitamin and a hormone. I also wrote about the many studies showing vitamin D’s connection to bone health, cancer, the immune system, chronic pain, and other conditions.

When I was writing The Vitamin D Revolution, I suspected that the cardiovascular system also benefited greatly from the proper levels of vitamin D. At the time there were only a few studies that supported my hunch.

New data is in, though, which undeniably establishes a link!

Findings of a prospective study on cardiovascular disease (CV), done with approximately 41,500 people, were published recently in the American Journal of Cardiology. Researchers concluded that there is an overwhelming connection between low vitamin D blood levels,  less than30 ng/ml, and a significantly higher risk of all cardiovascular incidents. These include heart attack, stroke, congestive heart failure, coronary artery disease (narrowing and stiffness due to arterial plaque), and even death.

Because these are risk factors for CV, researchers also looked for the prevalence of diabetes, hypertension (high blood pressure), hyperlipidemia (high cholesterol), and peripheral vascular disease (narrowing and constriction of arteries and veins, especially to the legs and feet). Researchers found that those individuals with vitamin D deficiency were significantly more likely to both have or develop these conditions.

In The Vitamin D Revolution, I stated there was a widespread deficiency of low vitamin D throughout the world. Although I would have been happy if I had been proven wrong about this, the study supported my theory. When they reviewed the patient records, 63.6% were found to be deficient. This was true regardless of age and gender.

Optimal levels of vitamin D are so critical to long-term health. Yet vitamin D deficiency is rampant in the world today. I encourage you to support your cardiovascular system—and all of your body’s systems and its musculoskeletal structure. You can do this by keeping your blood levels of vitamin D in the optimal range: between 40–70 ng/ml. Research indicates there is little to no risk, but lots of benefits.

Please ask your doctor for a vitamin D blood test or you can order an at home kit from my store.  Keep your vitamin D levels up for good health !

Anderson JL, et al., Relation of vitamin D deficiency to cardiovascular risk factors, disease status, and incident events in a general healthcare population, Am J Cardiol., 2010 Oct 1;106(7):963-8. Epub 2010 Aug 11. (Intermountain Heart Collaborative (IHC) Study Group.)