High doses of Vitamin D3 can reduce the number of Inflammatory T cells.
Living with multiple sclerosis can be a harrowing experience. People suffering from MS can gradually lose the ability to write, walk and speak. But it would seem that there is new hope out there for those suffering from MS. The medical researchers from the Johns Hopkins University have discovered that vitamin D supplements might help against MS.
MS or multiple sclerosis is also known as encephalomyelitis disseminate or disseminated sclerosis. As coined by the medical sciences, MS is a demyelinating disease, meaning that MS is capable of breaking down the myelin sheath.
In time, the disease can irreversible damage the nerves cells situated in the brain and in the spinal cord. MS is also known to be a progressive disease. According to medical specialists, the disease usually debuts at ages between 20 and 40. As MS progresses, the patient’s condition worsens, ultimately leading to death.
But it would seem that the researchers from the Johns Hopkins University might have stumbled upon a treatment that could help prevent MS. Moreover, according to the study, their method of tackling MS, seem to yield results in people suffering from MS.
In their approach, the medical researchers from the University hospital, lead by Peter Calabresi, a professor of neurology, had good results when treating patients suffering from MS with high doses of Vitamin D.
Their study was published on the online version of the JAMA medical journal of neurology. According to the new study, people suffering from multiple sclerosis have low levels of Vitamin D in their body. Moreover, the international health organizations state that patients suffering from MS should not receive more than 600 IU of Vitamin D per day.
In their study, the medical researcher wanted to see if high doses of vitamin D could actually improve the condition of people suffering from MS.
Thus, in order to test out their theory, the team organized a clinical study. This study involved approximately 40 people who suffered from MS relapses. All the patients received Vitamin D3 supplements, ranging from 800 to 10.400 IUs. Theses doses were administered each day, for a total period of 6 months.
In terms of side effects, the researchers found no marking distinction between patients who were given low doses of D3 and patients who received high doses of D3.
However, in the case of the patients who received high doses of D3, the team has observed fewer inflammatory T cell. These cells are considered to be intimately related to MS. This new study may not be the cure we are looking for, but the perspectives are great.
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