MS basically is the abbreviation of the medical term of multiple sclerosis. The cause of multiple sclerosis involves immune attacks against the body's own brain and spinal cord tissues, is unknown. Worldwide, multiple sclerosis takes place with much less frequency in lower latitudes closer to the equator, than in higher latitudes, further away from the equator. It is believed that there may be genetic, infectious, and environmental factors that increase or decrease an individual's risk of developing multiple sclerosis. One of numerous possible protective factors at work in lower latitudes, which are being explored, is the increased sunlight exposure in these areas and the resulting increase in the body's production of vitamin D. Vitamin D is accessible not only through sun exposure but also from nutritional sources and vitamin supplementation.

Importance as regards to women community

Women whose intake of vitamin D was greater than or equal to about 400 IU/day i.e. the amount generally contained in multivitamin supplements, from either supplements mostly multivitamins and food, or from supplements alone, had a forty percent lower risk of developing multiple sclerosis than those women who did not take vitamin D supplements. No reduced risks were discovered for vitamin D intake from food alone. Further analyses of smoking habits and birthplace did not affect the results. There is no information by the study done by the researchers that determines whether vitamin D affects the course of multiple sclerosis once it has begun.

Components of Vitamin D

Importantly, vitamin D intake was sturdily associated with intake of other components of multivitamins, including vitamins A and E and folic acid. Therefore, it was not probable for the group to analyze the effects of vitamin D intake independently from these other vitamins. The authors note that the strongest facts to date implicates vitamin D, and suggest that this vitamin seems to be the most probable candidate for association with reduced risk of multiple sclerosis. In general, Vitamin D facilitates the body use calcium. In addition, immune cells are prejudiced by vitamin D, and preliminary research suggests that vitamin D can alter immune attacks in mice with multiple sclerosis like disease.