Vitamin D & Multiple Sclerosis Risk
Vitamin D may play a key role in the development of Multiple Sclerosis (MS). Our visual explainer shows all the key data behind this link.
Professionally Reviewed by Charles Li, MD

Vitamin D

Key Facts
what is it?
where to get it
Vitamin D
what is it?
Key Facts
  • type
    fat soluble
  • source
    diet, skin
  • other names
    calciferol, cholecalciferol
Appearance
Use List

bone growth

calcium

immunity

Vitamin D
where to get it
the sun

your body can create vitamin D with assistance from the sun

diet

some foods such as milk and fish contain vitamin D

supplements

Vitamin D can also be obtained from dietary supplements

Key facts: Vitamin D plays a key role in bone growth, calcium absorption, and your immune system. Unlike some vitamins, your body can produce it with the help of the sun. Sunlight helps catalyze a key reaction in the production of Vitamin D.

Why Vitamin D Might Play a Role

Many know that Vitamin D helps grow strong bones. Did you know that it also affects a wide range of functions throughout the body including immunity, muscle function, and possibly even cancer risk? Some studies have shown that Vitamin D may play a key role in the development of Multiple Sclerosis.

Multiple Sclerosis

Key Facts
what is it
demographics
Multiple Sclerosis
what is it
disease type
autoimmune
Body System affected
brain & Spinal cord
key symptoms

numbness

Vision problems

Dizziness

Multiple Sclerosis
demographics
age at diagnosis

20-30

MS is typically diagnosed in early adulthood

global cases

2.2 mil.

about 2.2 million people have multiple sclerosis worldwide

gender distribution
26% Male
74% Female

Key Facts: Multiple sclerosis is an autoimmune disease that affects the central nervous system. In Multiple Sclerosis, your immune cells attack the insulation around your nerve cells. This can lead to a wide range of symptoms including numbness, vision problems, and dizziness.

Multiple Sclerosis & Sunlight

Geography & Multiple Sclerosis

Multiple Sclerosis tends to be more common in regions that receive less sunlight. Scientists theorized that vitamin D may play a role in Multiple Sclerosis risk.

Map of global Multiple Sclerosis Cases. Red: High death rate from Multiple Sclerosis. Yellow: Low death rate from Multiple Sclerosis. Source: Chris55 / CC BY-SA

Vitamin D Levels & Multiple Sclerosis Risk

Why this matters

This study shows that the amount of Vitamin D in your blood correlates with your Vitamin D risk if you are White. Interestingly, this same effect was not found in African Americans.

Data Source Quote:

"Our results converge with a growing body of evidence supporting a protective role for vitamin D in MS development. Vitamin D is a potent immunomodulator, and several studies have shown that administration of the biologically active hormone 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D prevents EAE onset and progression in mice."

Source: Serum 25-Hydroxyvitamin D Levels and Risk of Multiple Sclerosis

Vitamin D Supplements & Multiple Sclerosis Risk

A prospective study found that nurses who took the most Vitamin D supplements had the a significantly lower risk (p=0.006) of developing Multiple Sclerosis compared to those who took the lowest amount of Vitamin D.

Why this matters

This study suggests that taking vitamin D supplements may correlate with a lower risk of developing multiple sclerosis. This is just a correlation, but it suggests that supplementation may be worthwhile if you don't get enough sunlight.

Data Source:

"Intake of vitamin D from supplements was also inversely associated with risk of MS; the RR comparing women with intake of ≥400 IU/day with women with no supplemental vitamin D intake was 0.59 (95% CI = 0.38 to 0.91; p for trend = 0.006). ... These results support a protective effect of vitamin D intake on risk of developing MS."

Source: Vitamin D intake and incidence of multiple sclerosis

Key Takeaways

There is evidence supporting that Vitamin D levels and Vitamin D supplement intake may correlate with Multiple Sclerosis risk. As with all observational studies, we can't yet determine whether Vitamin D causes a reduction in risk.

Background

How Vitamin D is Made
Chart of how vitamin D is made

How Vitamin D is Made: Skin cells are believed to create 7-Dehydrocholesterol. UVB Rays from the sun convert this to Vitamin D3. Your liver and kidneys convert this to active Vitamin D. Vitamin D is then distributed throughout the body.

More Information on Vitamin D

Vitamin D Rich Foods:

"Oily fish such as salmon, sardines, pilchards, trout, herring, kippers and eel contain reasonable amounts of vitamin D. Cod liver oil contains a lot of vitamin D, but don’t take this if you are pregnant "

Vitamin D & Sunlight

"Our body creates vitamin D from direct sunlight on our skin when we're outdoors. From about late March/early April to the end of September, most people should be able to get all the vitamin D we need from sunlight. "

More Information on Multiple Sclerosis

Multiple Sclerosis Prognosis

"We found a 7-year shorter life expectancy and almost threefold higher mortality in MS compared with the general population. A rise in survival in MS was observed during the entire observation period."