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Although the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada recommends that people with MS – or at risk for MS – take between 600 and 4,000 IU of vitamin D a day, neurologist Robert Carruthers of the University of British Columbia recommends Patients take up to 5,000 IU of vitamin D3 a day.
Mark Lennihan / Associated press kits
Vitamin D deficiency is a risk factor for developing multiple sclerosis, and the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada now claims that people affected by the disease should consume up to 4,000 IU per day to reduce the risk or change the extent of the disease.
Vitamin D is acquired through exposure to the sun or by ingesting vitamin D3 supplements. Small amounts are found in foods such as egg yolks, fortified dairy products and oily fish.
Many studies have shown an badociation between low levels of vitamin D in the blood and the risk of contracting MS as well as relapses. A Canadian study found that children with low vitamin D levels were more likely to get MS, as well as those who had a virus called Epstein-Barr or a genetic predisposition such as a family history of MS.
Canada has one of the highest rates of multiple sclerosis in the world, with about 80,000 people diagnosed. Multiple sclerosis is an autoimmune disease of the central nervous system that attacks myelin, the protective envelope of the nerves that promotes the transmission of nerve impulses. Symptoms of MS include extreme fatigue, lack of coordination, weakness, tingling, altered sensations, vision problems, bladder problems, cognitive impairment, and mood changes.
Studies have shown that MS is generally more prevalent in less sunny countries and farther from the equator. Studies have also shown that MS relapses occur more frequently in winter, when vitamin D levels in the blood are lower. Genetic studies have found that lower levels of nutrients are badociated with higher risks of diagnosing MS.
The new guidelines for diet and supplementation are evidence-based, according to the company. Following consultations with medical experts, the recommendations were approved by the Canadian Network of Multiple Sclerosis Clinics and The Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers.
Dr. Robert Carruthers, Neurologist, Center for Brain Health, University of British Columbia.
Dr. Robert Carruthers, neurologist at the Multiple Sclerosis Clinic at the University of British Columbia. Brain Health Center, said the company's recommendation is reasonable. While the recommendation is that people with MS – or at risk of MS – consume between 600 and 4,000 IUs a day, Carruthers said he's advising his patients to take up to 5 000 IU of vitamin D3 a day. (International Units, or IUs, is a measure of the potency or biological activity of a product.)
"It's cheap, safe and has proven useful."
Carruthers estimates that less than 10% of patients who show up at the UBC clinic for a new diagnosis are taking vitamin D supplements at the time of their first appointments. This suggests that a general recommendation like the one released on Wednesday is important for spreading the message more widely.
"I encourage patients to take between 2,000 and 5,000 IU a day. We have to recognize that we do not know exactly the right dose, but in some studies, doses up to 10,000 units were used without any concerns about toxicity, "Carruthers said during an interview. , adding that he also advised patients to stop smoking as this can worsen the course of the disease.
"With patients with early or mild MS, you want them to do everything in their power to maintain this status by reducing risk in ways that can be changed, including taking vitamin D3 and avoiding smoking. "
Hopefully, two ongoing trials will provide more definitive answers about the role of vitamin D in the treatment of MS. The EVIDIMS trial (Efficacy of vitamin D supplementation in MS) is a pilot study examining the effects of high dose vitamin D3 supplementation on brain lesions, inflammatory activity, progression of disability and quality of life. Another study, the VIDAMS (vitamin D to improve MS) trial, examines the effectiveness of high-dose vitamin D3 in reducing relapse rates and disease activity in the brain.
A recent study done at the University of British Columbia by Dr. Helen Tremlett and her team showed that there may be subtle signs of MS in the five years before the onset of generally recognized symptoms.
Tremlett discovered that patients with multiple sclerosis were up to four times more likely to be treated for pain or sleep problems, and 50% more likely to see a psychiatrist.
The researchers found that fibromyalgia was fairly common in people who were diagnosed with MS later on, as was irritable bowel syndrome. The other two conditions with higher rates among those ultimately diagnosed as MS were migraines and any mood or anxiety disorder, including depression, anxiety, and bipolar disorder. .
The study was the most important to document the symptoms before individuals knew that they had MS. It is helpful for doctors to diagnose the disease sooner when disease-modifying drugs could potentially slow the damage caused by MS to the brain and spinal cord.
The disease is usually confirmed by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), nerve impulse testing, or cerebrospinal fluid examination.
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