Earlier, today I got a call from my neuro about a blood test I had last week when I went for my 6 month check-up she wanted to check my Vitamin D level. And she said my level was very low so she prescribed Vit D2 50,000 units,I take one softgel once a week for 6 weeks and then one pill once a month until finished,and then in 8 weeks she do another blood test to check the levels. She's also has me taking calcium pills one pill twice a day. It's kinda scary I've been doing research on this and low levels of vit D and the higher risk of breast cancer and now I really don't want to make a appointment for my first mammagram I've been putting it off for a year now. MS is scary enough for me thank you. I'm just wondering if maybe this is partly why I got MS I know there is a connection with low levels of Vit D and MS.See when I was a little kid I was always out in the sun we had a pool and I was as brown as a bear in the summertime but when I got older I just didn't go out in the sun that much because I burn very easy. I would really like to have your guys opinion on the subject. Thanks Kristi.

Vitamin D deficiencies are the latest "trend" in MS.

In testing for vitamin D deficiencies, there are two methods that labs use for reporting Vitamin D levels:

1. nanograms per milliliter (ng/mL)
(To convert ng/mL to nmol/l: multiply by 2.5, eg. 40 ng/mL *2.5 = 100 nmol/L)
2. nanomoles per liter [nmol/L]
(To convert nmol/l to ng/mL: divide by 2.5, eg. 100 nmol/L /2.5 = 40 ng/mL)

The optimum levels of vitamin D are defined as:

1. LESS THEN 20 ng/mL (50 nmol/L) is generally considered inadequate.

2. Between 20 (ng/mL) – 100 (ng/mL) is “normal”, by most accounts.

Where someone is deemed deficient (< 2o ng/mL), which can occur because of:

- dietary inadequacy, i.e. exposure to sunlight is limited or diet restrictions (milk allergies/lactose intolerance, vegetarianism, etc.)
- impaired absorption, i.e kidneys cannot convert vitamin D to its active form, or absorption of vitamin D from the digestive tract is inadequate

. . . The "normal" recommended FNB daily intake of vitamin D range is from 200 IU (5 mcg) to 600 IU (15 mcg) . . . dependant on age (as provided by the NIH & Food and Nutrition Board).

The best way to source Vitamin D naturally is by getting 5-30 minutes of DIRECT sun exposure between 10 AM and 3 PM, at least twice a week. This exposure can be to (NOTE: EITHER) the face, arms, legs, or back. However, one must realize that:

- complete cloud cover can reduce UV energy by 50%
- shade (including that which is produced by severe pollution) reduces UV energy by 60%
- Sunscreens with a sun protection factor of 8+ may block vitamin D-producing UV rays (but people generally do not apply sufficient amounts, or reapply their sunscreen frequently enough to cover all sun-exposed skin anyway)

People can also source sufficient vitamin D from their diet:

- fortified foods will provide most of the vitamin D people need, ie. U.S. milk is fortified with 100 IU/cup of vitamin D (which is already 25% - 50% of the daily recommended value, depending on age).
- 1 tbsp of cod liver oil = 1360 IU’s per serving (almost 3 X the average daily recommended requirment)
- The flesh of fish (such as salmon, tuna, and mackerel) = 200 – 350 IU’s per serving
- fish liver oils
- beef liver, cheese, and egg yolks (15 – 60 UI).
- some ready-to-eat breakfast contain added vitamin D, as do some brands of orange juice, yogurt, and margarine, ie. cereal flours and related products, milk and products made from milk, and calcium-fortified fruit juices and drinks.
- moderate use of commercial tanning beds (that emit 2-6% UVB radiation)

There have been some “theories” about lack of vitamin D being contributory to the initial development of MS, based on the “gradient latitude” hypothesis, . . . but the prevalence and distribution of MS has changed so significantly over recent years, that theory is becoming more and more obsolete. There is also no proof what-so-ever that increased vitamin D will affect the disease process in any way.

Can you find out what your vitamin D levels are right now?

Cherie

Thanks Cherie for replying to me good information. I will find out soon what my Vitamin D levels are my neuro also sends my test results in the mail so probably this week or next week I should know.

When I went to the MS Expo, the doctor speaking talked about Vitamin D and it's effects on MS. I was born in Mass, so I definitely was in cold weather for most of my life. The theory this man explained was to have your residence closer to the equator BEFORE you're 13. Such as: if you lived in GA for 12 years of your life and then moved to the cold.. you would have the immunity of someone that's "protected" *lol* Unfortunately for me I had 27 yrs of cold Mass. weather and yes it has to do with being in the sun.

There are of course exceptions to this rule.. there was a woman there that moved to a warmer climate before she was 13, but of course she still got MS.

I was getting sick and tired of waiting for dr's to treat my lack of minerals/electrolytes so I started to take Vit. C& E, Magnesium/Zinc/Calcium, B12, Fish Oil, Potassium, etc. to bring all my levels up to normal levels.. I do feel better but taking all these pills - YUCK!

Kristi, I take vitamin D and Calcium daily because of MS. I don't know if it is helping. Make your appointment for your mammo! It is very important!

For almost ALL MS folks getting MORE than a sufficient amount of Vit D is a VERY VERY good idea.

Taking between 2,000 and 4,000 IUs of Vitamin D3 (Cholecalciferol) will result in VERY favorable changes in blood chemistry. Actual good changes start at 1,000 IUs.

MS folks are "ABNORMAL" i.e. SICK and EXCESS Vit D3 is for them GOOD.

Think "outside normal" when it comes to MS needs. Vit D3 is the best non-Rx version to take. Getting some blood testing done before and after starting a Vit D3 supplementing program is a good idea but not really an absolute necessity. The upper limit for Vit D3 supplementing is 10,000 IUs.

The calcium issue is more complex and varies by gender, age and many other complex things. In my situation I am concerned about excess calcification in soft tissues.

I will post some abstracts/articles to explain some of my comments.

jackD

The benefit in reducing MMP-9s is enormous. They make the hole in the BBB Blood Brain Barrier and cut up myelin. I discussed this in my recent Avonex posting.

They do not mentuion MS in this abstract probably because it was done in 2002 and the MS MMP-9 connection was not published in detail until 2001.

jackD

Here is one study done at Penn Stata Univ funded by the National Multiple Sclerosis Foundation which back in 2001 showed how Vit D3 supplements can help blood chemistry. This is from their public press release at that time.

jackD

Thank you for these studies. It is not easy to find nutrition research that relates to MS.

It is predicted that the minimum requirement for Vitamin D will be increased in 2010, when the decade cycle on nutrition updates is scheduled.

Anytime a nutritional requirement is changed it affects food programs, such as food stamps, WIC, and school lunches to name a few. They try not to change them too frequently.

There was a news story on vitamin D and MS on the news tonight. It dealt with a study that examined twins and preventing MS. You can read it on their web site. Just click on the health search engine.