Vitamin D For Multiple Sclerosis

 Study shows living in sunnier climate reduces risk

iving in a sunnier climate greatly reduces your risk of multiple sclerosis (MS). Higher sun exposure during childhood and early adulthood can further decrease the risk. These were the conclusions that an investigative team came to in their study, published in Neurology.

“While previous studies have shown that more sun exposure may contribute to a lower risk of MS, our study went further, looking at exposure over a person’s lifespan. We found that where a person lives and the ages at which they are exposed to the sun’s [ultraviolet B] rays may play important roles in reducing the risk of MS,” said Dr. Helen Tremlett, lead study author and associate professor at The University of British Columbia.

Tremlett and her colleagues conducted the study by first analyzing data from the Nurses’ Health Study. They identified 151 women with new-onset MS and 235 age-matched controls. All of the participants received questionnaires on their sun and outdoor exposure. The questionnaires included queries on how much time they spent under direct sunlight, their place of residence, and the time spent outdoors during the summer and winter seasons.

Once the researchers gathered all the necessary data, they divided the participants into three groups that corresponded with low, moderate, or high amounts of UVB ray exposure. This was calculated by combining data on altitude, latitude, and cloud cover.

The results showed that the women living in areas with the most amount of sun, and, consequently, had the greatest exposure to UVB rays, had the lowest risk of MS. Regardless of their age group, they were 36 to 45 percent less likely to develop MS than the women with the least amount of UVB ray exposure. (Related: Sun exposure tremendously improves MS symptoms – research.)

When looking through the age groups, the researchers discovered that the participants who lived in areas with the highest UVB ray levels between ages five to 15 reduced their chances of MS by 51 percent when compared with the lowest UVB ray level group. Moreover, when participants from this age group spent more time outdoors during summer, they cut their risk of developing the disease by 55 percent. (MORE)

Source: Natural News