Taking a high dose of vitamin D could be an inexpensive and easy way to treat people with multiple sclerosis (MS), an autoimmune disorder that affects brain and spinal chord, suggests a promising new research."These results are exciting, as vitamin D has the potential to be an inexpensive, safe and convenient treatment for people with multiple sclerosis," said study author Peter Calabresi from Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in the US.Low levels of vitamin D in blood are tied to an increased risk of developing MS making one more susceptible to greater disability and more disease activity. The current recommended daily allowance of vitamin D is 600 international units. For the study, 40 people with relapsing-remitting MS received either 10,400 international units or 800 international units of vitamin D supplements per day for six months.
Patients with severe vitamin D deficiency were not included in the study. Blood tests at the start of the study and again at three and six months measured the amount of vitamin D in the blood and the response in the immune system's T cells, which play a key role in MS. While researchers are still determining the optimal level of vitamin D in the blood for people with MS, a suggested range of 40 to 60 nanograms per milliliter (ng/ml) has been proposed as a target.Participants taking high doses of vitamin D reached levels within the proposed target, whereas the group taking the low dose did not reach the target. Those taking high dose had a reduction in the percentage of inflammatory T cells related to MS severity.Side effects from the vitamin supplements were minor and did not differ different between those taking high dose and the ones who took low dose, the study found.The study was published online in the journal of Neurology.
Patients with severe vitamin D deficiency were not included in the study. Blood tests at the start of the study and again at three and six months measured the amount of vitamin D in the blood and the response in the immune system's T cells, which play a key role in MS. While researchers are still determining the optimal level of vitamin D in the blood for people with MS, a suggested range of 40 to 60 nanograms per milliliter (ng/ml) has been proposed as a target.Participants taking high doses of vitamin D reached levels within the proposed target, whereas the group taking the low dose did not reach the target. Those taking high dose had a reduction in the percentage of inflammatory T cells related to MS severity.Side effects from the vitamin supplements were minor and did not differ different between those taking high dose and the ones who took low dose, the study found.The study was published online in the journal of Neurology.
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