Multiple sclerosis (MS) affects around 100,000 people in France, including three women for one man who are affected. So far, the causes of the disease remain mysterious. But a new study by researchers at Harvard University (United States) suggests that a vitamin D deficiency increases the risk of suffering from the disease. Conversely, not suffering from vitamin deficiency would greatly reduce the risk.
A study of 800,000 women in Finland
For this study, published in the journal Neurology, American researchers followed a large cohort of 800,000 Finnish women. Blood tests allowing the determination of vitamin D were performed when they underwent a prenatal test.
The team defined vitamin D deficiency when it was less than 30 nanomoles per liter. The rate was considered insufficient when it was 30 to 49 nanomoles per liter, and the normal level was set at 50 nanomoles per liter or more.
43% more risk when you are deficient
Then these women were followed for 9 years in order to follow the possible multiple sclerosis diagnoses(SEP). At the end of the 9 years, 1922 women had developed the disease. The researchers compared their blood tests with those of women of the same age who had not been diagnosed with MS.
Among participants with MS, 58% had vitamin D deficiency. Researchers also found that women with vitamin D deficiency were 43% more likely to develop MS than their counterparts who had normal vitamin levels.
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