Sun Exposure, Vitamin D Intake and Progression to Disability among Veterans with Progressive Multiple Sclerosis

2011 ◽  
Vol 37 (1) ◽  
pp. 52-57 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tzu-Yun McDowell ◽  
Sania Amr ◽  
William J. Culpepper ◽  
Patricia Langenberg ◽  
Walter Royal ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Multiple Sclerosis ◽  
Vitamin D ◽  
Sun Exposure ◽  
Progressive Multiple Sclerosis ◽  
Vitamin D Intake

scholarly journals A framework for measurement and harmonization of pediatric multiple sclerosis etiologic research studies: The Pediatric MS Tool-Kit

2018 ◽  
Vol 25 (8) ◽  
pp. 1170-1177 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sandra Magalhaes ◽  
Brenda Banwell ◽  
Amit Bar-Or ◽  
Isabel Fortier ◽  
Heather E Hanwell ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Multiple Sclerosis ◽  
Vitamin D ◽  
Delphi Study ◽  
Sun Exposure ◽  
Small Sample ◽  
Sample Sizes ◽  
Vitamin D Intake ◽  
Measurement Framework ◽  
Small Sample Sizes

Background: While studying the etiology of multiple sclerosis (MS) in children has several methodological advantages over studying etiology in adults, studies are limited by small sample sizes. Objective: Using a rigorous methodological process, we developed the Pediatric MS Tool-Kit, a measurement framework that includes a minimal set of core variables to assess etiological risk factors. Methods: We solicited input from the International Pediatric MS Study Group to select three risk factors: environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) exposure, sun exposure, and vitamin D intake. To develop the Tool-Kit, we used a Delphi study involving a working group of epidemiologists, neurologists, and content experts from North America and Europe. Results: The Tool-Kit includes six core variables to measure ETS, six to measure sun exposure, and six to measure vitamin D intake. The Tool-Kit can be accessed online ( www.maelstrom-research.org/mica/network/tool-kit ). Conclusion: The goals of the Tool-Kit are to enhance exposure measurement in newly designed pediatric MS studies and comparability of results across studies, and in the longer term to facilitate harmonization of studies, a methodological approach that can be used to circumvent issues of small sample sizes. We believe the Tool-Kit will prove to be a valuable resource to guide pediatric MS researchers in developing study-specific questionnaire

VITAMIN D LEVELS, VITAMIN D INTAKE AND SUNLIGHT EXPOSURE IN PEDIATRIC MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS

2006 ◽  
Vol 37 (S 1) ◽  
Author(s):  
R Hung ◽  
R Vieth ◽  
R Goldman ◽  
E Sochett ◽  
B Banwell
Keyword(s):  
Multiple Sclerosis ◽  
Vitamin D ◽  
Sunlight Exposure ◽  
Pediatric Multiple Sclerosis ◽  
Vitamin D Intake ◽  
Vitamin D Levels

scholarly journals Comparison of Antioxidant Status and Vitamin D Levels between Multiple Sclerosis Patients and Healthy Matched Subjects

2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 ◽  
pp. 1-5 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ehsan Hejazi ◽  
Reza Amani ◽  
Naser SharafodinZadeh ◽  
Bahman Cheraghian
Keyword(s):  
Multiple Sclerosis ◽  
Vitamin D ◽  
Dietary Intake ◽  
Antioxidant Status ◽  
Sun Exposure ◽  
Total Antioxidant Status ◽  
Serum Levels ◽  
Study Groups ◽  
Vitamin D Levels ◽  
Multiple Sclerosis Patients

Objective. The aim of the present study was to compare the serum levels of total antioxidant status (TAS) and 25(OH) D3 and dietary intake of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients with those of normal subjects.Method. Thirty-seven MS patients (31 women) and the same number of healthy matched controls were compared for their serum levels and dietary intake of 25(OH) D3 and TAS. Sun exposure and the intake of antioxidants and vitamin D rich foods were estimated through face-to-face interview and food frequency questionnaire.Results. Dietary intake of antioxidants and vitamin D rich foods, vitamin C, vitamin A, and folate was not significantly different between the two groups. There were also no significant differences in the mean levels of 25(OH) D3 and TAS between the study groups. Both groups had low serum levels of 25(OH) D3 and total antioxidants.Conclusion. No significant differences were detected in serum levels and dietary intake of vitamin D and antioxidants between MS patients and healthy controls. All subjects had low antioxidant status and vitamin D levels.

Past environmental sun exposure and risk of multiple sclerosis: a role for the Cdx-2 Vitamin D receptor variant in this interaction

2009 ◽  
Vol 15 (5) ◽  
pp. 563-570 ◽  
Author(s):  
JL Dickinson ◽  
DI Perera ◽  
AF van der Mei ◽  
A-L Ponsonby ◽  
AM Polanowski ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Multiple Sclerosis ◽  
Vitamin D ◽  
Vitamin D Receptor ◽  
Significant Interaction ◽  
Important Determinant ◽  
Sun Exposure ◽  
Population Based ◽  
Vdr Gene ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Group 2

Multiple studies have provided evidence for an association between reduced sun exposure and increased risk of multiple sclerosis (MS), an association likely to be mediated, at least in part, by the vitamin D hormonal pathway. Herein, we examine whether the vitamin D receptor ( VDR), an integral component of this pathway, influences MS risk in a population-based sample where winter sun exposure in early childhood has been found to be an important determinant of MS risk. Three polymorphisms within the VDR gene were genotyped in 136 MS cases and 235 controls, and associations with MS and past sun exposure were examined by logistic regression. No significant univariate associations between the polymorphisms, rs11574010 ( Cdx-2A > G), rs10735810 ( Fok1T >  C), or rs731236 ( Taq1C > T) and MS risk were observed. However, a significant interaction was observed between winter sun exposure during childhood, genotype at rs11574010, and MS risk ( P = 0.012), with the ‘G’ allele conferring an increased risk of MS in the low sun exposure group (≤2 h/day). No significant interactions were observed for either rs10735810 or rs731236, after stratification by sun exposure. These data provide support for the involvement of the VDR gene in determining MS risk, an interaction likely to be dependent on past sun exposure.

scholarly journals On the Nature of Evidence and ‘Proving’ Causality: Smoking and Lung Cancer vs. Sun Exposure, Vitamin D and Multiple Sclerosis

2018 ◽  
Vol 15 (8) ◽  
pp. 1726 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robyn Lucas ◽  
Rachael Rodney Harris
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Multiple Sclerosis ◽  
Lung Cancer ◽  
Vitamin D ◽  
Observational Studies ◽  
Animal Studies ◽  
Disease Risk ◽  
Sun Exposure ◽  
Sufficient Evidence

If environmental exposures are shown to cause an adverse health outcome, reducing exposure should reduce the disease risk. Links between exposures and outcomes are typically based on ‘associations’ derived from observational studies, and causality may not be clear. Randomized controlled trials to ‘prove’ causality are often not feasible or ethical. Here the history of evidence that tobacco smoking causes lung cancer—from observational studies—is compared to that of low sun exposure and/or low vitamin D status as causal risk factors for the autoimmune disease, multiple sclerosis (MS). Evidence derives from in vitro and animal studies, as well as ecological, case-control and cohort studies, in order of increasing strength. For smoking and lung cancer, the associations are strong, consistent, and biologically plausible—the evidence is coherent or ‘in harmony’. For low sun exposure/vitamin D as risk factors for MS, the evidence is weaker, with smaller effect sizes, but coherent across a range of sources of evidence, and biologically plausible. The association is less direct—smoking is directly toxic and carcinogenic to the lung, but sun exposure/vitamin D modulate the immune system, which in turn may reduce the risk of immune attack on self-proteins in the central nervous system. Opinion about whether there is sufficient evidence to conclude that low sun exposure/vitamin D increase the risk of multiple sclerosis, is divided. General public health advice to receive sufficient sun exposure to avoid vitamin D deficiency (<50 nmol/L) should also ensure any benefits for multiple sclerosis, but must be tempered against the risk of skin cancers.

scholarly journals Validation of a Vitamin D Specific Questionnaire to Determine Vitamin D Status in Athletes

Nutrients ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (11) ◽  
pp. 2732 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Enette Larson-Meyer ◽  
Corey S. Douglas ◽  
Joi J. Thomas ◽  
Evan C. Johnson ◽  
Jacqueline N. Barcal ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Vitamin D ◽  
Collegiate Athletes ◽  
Sun Exposure ◽  
Ultraviolet B ◽  
Food Record ◽  
Food Diary ◽  
Study Objective ◽  
Supplement Use ◽  
Vitamin D Intake ◽  
Tanning Bed

The study objective was to validate a food frequency and lifestyle questionnaire (FFLQ) to assess vitamin D intake and lifestyle factors affecting status. Methods: Data collected previously during the fall (n = 86), winter (n = 49), and spring (n = 67) in collegiate-athletes (Study 1) and in active adults (n = 123) (Study 2) were utilized. Study 1: Vitamin D intake and ultraviolet B exposure were estimated using the FFLQ and compared to serum 25(OH)D concentrations via simple correlation and linear regression modeling. Study 2: Vitamin D intake from food was estimated using FFLQ and compared to vitamin D intake reported in 7-Day food diaries via paired t-test and Bland–Altman analysis. Results: Study 1: Serum 25(OH)D was not associated with vitamin D intake from food, food plus supplements, or sun exposure, but was associated with tanning bed use (r = 0.39) in spring, supplement use in fall (r = 0.28), and BMI (body mass index) (r = −0.32 to −0.47) across all seasons. Serum 25(OH)D concentrations were explained by BMI, tanning bed use, and sun exposure in fall, (R = 0.42), BMI in winter (R = 0.32), and BMI and tanning bed use in spring (R = 0.52). Study 2: Estimated Vitamin D intake from food was 186.4 ± 125.7 via FFLQ and 148.5 ± 228.2 IU/day via food diary. There was no association between intake estimated by the two methodologies (r = 0.12, p < 0.05). Conclusions: FFLQ-estimated vitamin D intake was not associated with serum 25(OH)D concentration or food-record-estimated vitamin D intake. Results highlight the difficulty of designing/utilizing intake methodologies for vitamin D, as its status is influenced by body size and both endogenous and exogenous (dietary) sources.

Determinants of Postpartum Vitamin D Status in the Caucasian Mother-Offspring Pairs at a Latitude of 52°N: A Cross-Sectional Study

2015 ◽  
Vol 67 (1) ◽  
pp. 33-41 ◽  
Author(s):  
Justyna Czech-Kowalska ◽  
Dariusz Gruszfeld ◽  
Maciej Jaworski ◽  
Dorota Bulsiewicz ◽  
Julita Latka-Grot ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Vitamin D ◽  
Cord Blood ◽  
Sun Exposure ◽  
Maternal Blood ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Lower Percentage ◽  
Season Of Birth ◽  
Vitamin D Status ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Vitamin D Intake

Background: High prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in pregnancy is recorded. Aim: To establish determinants of postpartum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) levels on mothers and offspring. Methods: 25(OH)D level was measured in cord blood and maternal blood collected ≤3 weeks postpartum. Maternal socioeconomic status, vitamin D intake, sun exposure during pregnancy and maternal and neonatal fat mass (FM; dual X-ray absorptiometry) were assessed within 3 weeks postpartum. Results: A total of 174 mother-offspring pairs were enrolled. Maternal 25(OH)D <20 ng/ml was seen in 32 (51%) of summer and 82 (74%) of winter deliveries. Women with 25(OH)D <20 ng/ml had a 2-fold lower percentage of vitamin D intake of ≥800 IU/day than women with 25(OH)D ≥20 ng/ml (p = 0.02). FM (%) was comparable between groups (p > 0.05). Multiple regression analysis revealed the delivery season, prenatal vitamin D intake ≥800 IU/day and duration of supplementation to be the determinants of maternal 25(OH)D level (R2 = 0.26, p < 0.001). Maternal 25(OH)D level, season of birth and duration of maternal supplementation explained 83% of the variance in cord blood 25(OH)D level (R2 = 0.83, p < 0.001). Conclusions: The key determinants of higher maternal vitamin D status were the summer-autumn season of delivery and prenatal use of ≥800 IU/day of vitamin D. The cord blood 25(OH)D level was mainly determined by maternal 25(OH)D level and season of birth.

scholarly journals Season of birth is associated with multiple sclerosis and disease severity

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 205521732110657
Author(s):  
P Stridh ◽  
J Huang ◽  
AK Hedström ◽  
L Alfredsson ◽  
T Olsson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Multiple Sclerosis ◽  
Vitamin D ◽  
Severe Disease ◽  
Winter Season ◽  
Sun Exposure ◽  
Month Of Birth ◽  
Multiple Sclerosis Risk ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Vitamin D Levels ◽  
Early Fall

Background The latitude gradient in multiple sclerosis incidence indicates that low sun exposure and therefore vitamin D deficiency is associated with multiple sclerosis risk. Objective Investigation of the effect of month of birth, which influences postnatal vitamin D levels, on multiple sclerosis risk and severity in Sweden. Methods Patients and population-based controls were included from three nationwide cohorts. Differences in month of birth between cases and controls were analyzed using logistic regression and examined for effect modification by calendar year and geographic region at birth. Results Males had a reduced risk of multiple sclerosis if born in the winter and increased risk if born in the early fall. Individuals born before 1960 had an increased risk if born in summer or fall. Being born in late summer and early fall was associated with more severe disease. Conclusions We identified a birth cohort effect on the association between the month of birth and multiple sclerosis, with a more significant effects for births before 1960. This coincides with a period of lower breastfeeding rates, recommended intake of vitamin D, and sun exposure, resulting in a lower vitamin D exposure during the fall/winter season for infants born in the summer.

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