Get In 2 Vitamin D

Researchers have known for decades that the incidence of multiple sclerosis is related to how far "north" you live on the globe during childhood. The rates go way up the higher the latitude, which is a strong clue that vitamin D (the sunshine vitamin) might be involved. Further studies backed up this hypothesis - vitamin D levels were significantly lower in people with MS than those without. Now? Researchers reporting in PLoS Genetics have identified the specific gene that may be involved in the development of multiple sclerosis, and - no surprise - it's a vitamin D -related gene. A Medscape/Reuters Health Info news story reports: "'Here we show that the main environmental risk candidate -- vitamin D -- and the main gene region are directly linked and interact.' The researchers found that proteins activated by vitamin D bind to a particular DNA sequence lying next to the DRB1 variant, which in effect switches the gene on. Too little vitamin D may cause the gene to malfunction, they said. This means for people who carry the variant, a vitamin D deficiency during early life might impair the body's ability to delete T-cells, which go on to attack the body and lead to a loss of myelin on the nerve fibers, the researchers said. 'Vitamin D is a safe and relatively cheap supplement with substantial potential health benefits,' Sreeram Ramagopalan, a researcher who worked on the study, said in a statement." Bottom line: The research in this area is very advanced, in terms of identifying a causative role for vitamin D deficiency in childhood and higher risk of later MS. Be sure your kids are getting enough vitamin D, especially if you and/or your family have darker pigment, and especially if you live north of L.A./Atlanta.