Last week I spoke of some recent benefits mentioned for consumption of milk and the ill effects of vitamin D deficiency along with several alternate sources of vitamin D. While scanning Eurekalert.org's science news service I came across yet another article concerning the ill effects of deficient levels of vitamin D on patients suffering from multiple sclerosis (MS). MS is a debilitating neuromuscular-immune disorder which involves immune cells attacking the body's own oligodendrocytes (also known as Schwnn cells when located in the peripheral nervous system) which possess the primary function of insulating axons. This causes the loss of signal from the brain to the muscle.
According to a University of Buffalo study published in the American Academy of Neurology, "(l)ow vitamin D levels may be associated with more advanced physical disability and cognitive impairment in persons with multiple sclerosis." The 236 participants' blood serum for total vitamin D (D2 and D3) along with active vitamin D byproducts. According to the study "(r)esults showed that only seven percent of persons with secondary-progressive MS showed sufficient vitamin D, compared to 18.3 percent of patients with the less severe relapsing-remitting type." This indicates that there is a possible correlation between vitamin D levels and severity of neurodegeneration in MS. When controlling for both season (Winter is associated with lower levels of vitamin D) and depression (which is also associated with lowered vitamin D levels), this relationship still held true.
Little is currently known about vitamin D's relation to cognitive development or degeneration. What is known is that vitamin D levels are associated with increased risk for MS and that low levels may be implicated in worse prognosis for MS. As I have stated many times before, we do not know enough about these severe neurological diseases and much work is yet to be done in order to prevent and fine treatments for these conditions.
According to a University of Buffalo study published in the American Academy of Neurology, "(l)ow vitamin D levels may be associated with more advanced physical disability and cognitive impairment in persons with multiple sclerosis." The 236 participants' blood serum for total vitamin D (D2 and D3) along with active vitamin D byproducts. According to the study "(r)esults showed that only seven percent of persons with secondary-progressive MS showed sufficient vitamin D, compared to 18.3 percent of patients with the less severe relapsing-remitting type." This indicates that there is a possible correlation between vitamin D levels and severity of neurodegeneration in MS. When controlling for both season (Winter is associated with lower levels of vitamin D) and depression (which is also associated with lowered vitamin D levels), this relationship still held true.
Little is currently known about vitamin D's relation to cognitive development or degeneration. What is known is that vitamin D levels are associated with increased risk for MS and that low levels may be implicated in worse prognosis for MS. As I have stated many times before, we do not know enough about these severe neurological diseases and much work is yet to be done in order to prevent and fine treatments for these conditions.
Very informative! Thanks for the great article.
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