Vitamin D – All About the Timing?

There has been a long-held belief that low-levels of Vitamin D may increase the risk of developing multiple sclerosis. This has been supported by the worldwide distribution of MS, where lower rates are observed around the equator (where sunlight exposure is the greatest). A recent study from the University of Bergen, published in Multiple Sclerosis, has examined cod liver oil based supplementation of Vitamin D3 in people with MS.

In the study, 953 people with MS and 1717 controls were surveyed about the use of cod liver oil throughout their life. The results suggested that taking cod liver oil during childhood did not change the risk of developing MS. However, a decreased risk was observed in those people who took it during adolescence (between the ages of 13-18). Furthermore, they showed that this was dependent on the dose of Vitamin D intake, with 600-800 IU/day associated with the lowest risk. This not only provides more evidence that Vitamin D levels may be involved in the development of MS, but also the ages at which they are particularly important.

This summary was prepared by Brett Drummond for MStranslate.