Find out about how vitamin D can help with MS
When the sun’s UVB rays hit the skin it produces vitamin D – a hormone that is important for good health generally, but particularly for people with MS – because it dampens overactive immune responses and protects brain cells. This is why maintaining vitamin D levels through sunlight or supplementation is a key part of the Overcoming MS Program.
Research has shown that people with MS have lower levels of vitamin D, and also that vitamin D levels are lower during MS relapses.
But in many parts of the world, sunlight is too scarce, or UVB levels are too low, to produce enough vitamin D, so taking supplements is needed. As well as taking vitamin D supplements, make sure to get daily doses of sunshine when possible. You can calculate the amount of sun you need using the UV index.
The recommended daily intake (RDI) of vitamin D does not take people with MS into consideration. If you have MS, you need a higher dose of vitamin D supplement to get the same effect.
If your doctor finds that you have a vitamin D deficiency, then they may recommend that you take a daily vitamin D supplement of 5,000-10,000 IU to get the level of vitamin D in your blood back up to 150-225 nmol/L (60-90ng/mL). The risk of overdosing on vitamin D is rare, and there is a considerable window of safety, with toxic levels only being a concern over 400nmol/L (160ng/ml) in most people.
Not only has lack of vitamin D been linked to increased risk of getting MS, but for PwMS vitamin D offers numerous benefits. These include boosting the immune system, lessening the severity and frequency of MS symptoms and lengthening the time it takes to progress from relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis to the secondary-progressive phase.
A lack of vitamin D is a worldwide problem with health consequences, especially in countries with colder climates and long winters. It is estimated that one billion people worldwide are deficient in vitamin D.
We recommend that people ask for a vitamin D level test immediately upon being diagnosed with MS. This could be through your general practitioner or using an online kit.
It is not uncommon to have low vitamin D levels, one billion people across the world are vitamin D deficient.
The results of the first test often show that vitamin D levels are low, which may be what brings on the attack. It should be above 150nmol/L (60ng/mL in the USA).
If vitamin D levels are very low, it can be brought up quickly with a one-off megadose of vitamin D3 (e.g. 600,000 IU) followed by regular capsules or sprays.
Don’t be nervous about large doses; research shows they are safe and actually necessary to raise vitamin D levels quickly. You do this by working out how much is in each tablet and taking the required number. Remember it is fat soluble so it is advisable to take it with a meal or your flaxseed oil.
Reserach includes geography and latitude epidemiology, population studies, animal studies, case-control studies, cohort studies, and randomised controlled trials.
