Why are people with MS given vitamin D supplements?
Bone health seems to be a good reason.
Are you and your family taking vitamin D supplements? (substack.com)
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- Some neurologists & scientists believe vitamin D supplements may be disease-modifying, reducing the impact of MS on the nervous system and improving long-term disease outcomes, though this is has not been proven absolutely.
- As @whammel says, a good level of vitamin D looks after various aspects of your body including bone health and resistance to osteoporosis.
- There is a suggestion that people with MS are less able to absorb or process efficiently vitamin D so high doses need to be taken.
- Chicken & Egg. Do people get MS because, in part, their vitamin D level is low, or do people with MS have low vitamin D levels as a corollary of having MS. Nobody knows for sure.
- It has been measured that those in sunnier climates have a lower incidence of MS than less sunny ones. Compare northern US states with southern ones, Scandinavian nations with Mediterranean nations and even Scotland and Southern England. The factor being that the people living in sunnier climes naturally generate more vitamin D in their systems through greater exposure to sunlight.
- Studies show that genetic determinants of low vitamin D levels are linked to an increased MS risk, so if you have MS it would be advisable to ensure your direct descendants take a supplement.
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